[Lazarus] How do I get the default path and filename for the user's HTML browser???

[Michael Van Canneyt]

There is no failsafe way. It really depends on the user, distribution.

My solution would be:
- Let user select one
- If none was selected, search a few of the default browsers in the PATH.

Michael.

On Tue, 7 Sep 2010, Peter E Williams wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I am writing a procedure called OpenHTMLFile. It works fine with
> HTML_Browser_file (which is the command to run) set to 'firefox' on my
> Linux Ubuntu 10.04 system.
>
> My question is this... what do I need to change to make
> HTML_Browser_file default to the default application (path and filename)
> to open a html file e.g. I want it to be the path and application
> filename of ANY computer's HTML browser. I assume that in this day of
> modern computing that it would be safe to assume that the user has some
> kind of html browsing software whether it be: Firefox, Chrome, Internet
> Explorer, or whatever it is that Macs use ... sorry for my ignorance,
> but I am not a Mac user, so I am no up with the latest browser for Macs.
>
> I want to do this:
>    Proc.CommandLine := HTML_Browser_file;
> // e.g. it will now be 'firefox'
>    if Proc.CommandLine is a valid application then
>      Proc.CommandLine := Whatever_is_the_default_HTML_Browser;
>
>> From Memo1 after run of project1 and call to Button1Click:
> File HTML_2_Open "test1.html" does not exists. Opening browser with
> blank filename.
> Process.CommandLine is: "firefox"
>
> uses Process;
> [...]
>
> procedure TForm1.OpenHTMLFile(HTML_Browser_file, HTML_2_Open : String);
> var
>  x : integer;
>  Proc : TProcess;
>  S : String;
>  I : integer;
> begin
>  { // this code not used!!!
>  S := Application.ExeName;
>  // hack for Mac
>  I := Pos('.app/Contents/MacOS/', S);
>  if (I > 0) then
>    S := Copy(S,1, I+3);
>  }
>
>  Proc := TProcess.Create(nil);
>  try
>    // Proc.CommandLine := '/Applications/MyApp.app';
>    Proc.CommandLine := HTML_Browser_file;
>    if not fileExists( HTML_2_Open ) then
>    begin
>      memo1.lines.add( 'File HTML_2_Open "' + HTML_2_Open + '" does not
> exists. Opening browser with blank filename.' );
>      HTML_2_Open := '';
>    end
>    else
>      Proc.CommandLine := Proc.CommandLine + ' ' + HTML_2_Open;
>    memo1.lines.add( 'Process.CommandLine is: "' + Proc.CommandLine +
> '"');
>    PRoc.Options := Proc.Options + [poWaitOnExit];
>    Proc.CommandLine := Proc.CommandLine;
>    PRoc.Execute;
>  finally
>    Proc.free;
>  end;
> end; { OpenHTMLFile }
> {---------------------------------------------------------}
>
> procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
> const
>  Default_HTML_Browser_file = 'firefox';
> var
>  HTML_Browser_file, HTML_2_Open : String;
> begin
>  HTML_Browser_file := Default_HTML_Browser_file;
>  HTML_2_Open := 'test1.html';
>  OpenHTMLFile(HTML_Browser_file, HTML_2_Open);
> end;
>
> Best Regards,
> 	PEW
> Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
>
> -- 
> Proudly developing Quality Cross Platform Open Source Games
> Since 1970 with a Commodore PET 4016 with 16 KRAM
> http://pews-freeware-games.org (<--- brand new)
>
>
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