How to use ShellExecute to open html files in Windows using C++?

Question

I'm trying to open some html file with the default browser from my code.

I use the following code:

ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "HELP\index.html",
            NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

And include header "Windows.h". But ShellExecuter:identifier not found error comes up and compilation fails.

I use Microsoft Visual Studio 2010. How can I make ShellExecute work, or more to the point, how can I open a html file from my code?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered May 24 '12 at 13:01

5

to use ShellExecute, you should include Shellapi.h and link with Shell32.lib library

answered May 24 '12 at 13:01

Thanks! But I still have trouble since "open" and the link in quotation gives the error "cannot convert parameter 2 from 'const char [5]' to 'LPCWSTR' ". – Emre Turkoz May 24 '12 at 13:07
1

Use `L"open"` to specify a wide string literal – David Heffernan May 24 '12 at 13:12
try to do something like: ShellExecute(NULL, TEXT("open"), TEXT("HELP\index.html"), NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL); – elhadi dp ıpɐɥןǝ May 24 '12 at 13:14

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Mar 07 '14 at 19:22

I had a similar problem:

On WinXP

ShellExecute( NULL, NULL, "HELP\index.html", NULL, NULL, NULL );

and as well

ShellExecute( NULL, "call", "HELP\index.html", NULL, NULL, NULL );

both work fine.

Whereas on Window-7 (starter) only

ShellExecute( NULL, "open", "HELP\index.html", NULL, NULL, NULL );

is possible.

XP seems not to know "open" and Win-7 not to know "call". I used the MINGW for all the building.

2 Answers2