Any way to open a webpage URL in the user's default web browser

[Zethrax]

Hi. Is there any way in either the Leadwerks engine or the Lua implementation to open a webpage URL in the user's default web browser. Basically I'm looking to shell execute a URL.

 

For example, in Blitz3D I can use the code:-

 

Execfile "http://www.leadwerks.com/"

 

to shell execute the specified URL which will open the webpage in the user's default web browser.

 

In a project for a free advergame I'm working on in Blitz3D I have a couple of main menu links to open the game project's website and to open the website for the advertised product. I'm considering porting that project to Leadwerks, but if I can't open a webpage from my program then it ends up being a deal killer for an advertising supported game.

[Josh]

No, but if you look in the BMX module you can find how to do it:

int bbOpenURL( BBString *url ){
int n;
if( _usew ){
n=(int)ShellExecuteW( 0,0,(wchar_t*)bbTmpWString(url),0,0,10 )>32; //SW_SHOWDEFAULT
}else{
n=(int)ShellExecuteA( 0,0,bbTmpCString(url),0,0,10 )>32; //SW_SHOWDEFAULT
}
return n;
}

[macklebee]

You can use lua's os.execute on a html file that would use the default browser to open it. The html file can have the links to the actual website... its a dirty workaround but it works.

[Zethrax]

OK, thanks for the info. I'll do some experimenting with the suggested methods.

[beo6]

If that does not work, you can try to call it with a lua library.

 

i made a small one with some additional functions. (was mostly just playing around with it)

 

Have uploaded it for you here:

https://cloud.software-sl.de/index.php/s/JLiv6hkd9koCLms

 

You have to extract the files where your executable is

and add import("LEAddon.lua") to your App.lua or Main.lua at the beginning.

 

Then you can call something like

addon.Execute("http://www.google.de") and the default browser is started.

 

It has a couple of other functions but as i said i where mostly playing around with it and not everything will work.

 

You will have to disable sandbox Lua though.