How to open html file with anchor(#) in C# with default browser

Question

I am trying to open a contextual help file in c#.

When i specify no anchor, it works perfectly.

Process.Start("C:/Help/Help.htm")

But when i specify anchor, it does not open

Process.Start("C:/Help/Help.htm#_Toc342057538")

Internally it changes '#' to '%23' and the path becomes "c:\Help.htm%23_Toc342057538" which browser is unable to recognize.

Browser is successfully opening the path "c:\Help.htm#_Toc342057538"

How to stop this automatic conversion by Process.Start. The same behavior is observed, if i give the anchor label as another argument, or use Uri class.

EDIT Same behavior is observed, when i enter the string in Window Run. Following command also convert # to %23, which browser cannot recognize.

chrome c:/Help.htm#_Toc342057538

Have you tried opening the users default browser and passing the file as an argument (the second paramter in Process.Start)? An example of the default browser check is here: stackoverflow.com/questions/2707799/… — Simon Whitehead
– Simon Whitehead, Commented Dec 13, 2012 at 4:29

Michael Liu · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-13 05:20:49Z

3

On my Windows 7 system, both of the following open C:\Help\Help.htm in Internet Explorer and scroll to the _Toc342057538 anchor:

Process.Start("iexplore", "file://C:/Help/Help.htm#_Toc342057538");
Process.Start("iexplore", @"C:\Help\Help.htm#_Toc342057538");

For Firefox and Chrome, only the file protocol seems to work:

Process.Start("firefox", "file://C:/Help/Help.htm#_Toc342057538");
Process.Start("chrome", "file://C:/Help/Help.htm#_Toc342057538");

answered Dec 13, 2012 at 5:20

Michael Liu

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Comments

Murtuza Kabul · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-13 04:54:01Z

0

Try this out. I just did it myself and working in internet explorer

string s = "file:///D:/tmp/test.html%23test";
      s = uri.UnescapeDataString(s);

      Process.Start(s);

Please let me know if it is working or not for you.

answered Dec 13, 2012 at 4:54

Murtuza Kabul

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2 Comments

Murtuza Kabul Over a year ago

is your default browser firefox, mine is internet explorer and it seems to work properly in it

Tilak Over a year ago

it has worked with file://D:... and not with file:///d:.... Seems like extra backslash was problem

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