Open external file with OS' default application (docx with Word, etc.) using NodeJS and Electron

Question

I'm using NodeJS/Electron for a desktop app.

What I wanna do, is to open a file with it's OS' default application, like .docx with Word.

What I tried so far are approaches using child_process.spawn, .exec or .execFile but I don't get anything.

Here is my actual code:

var fs = require('fs'),
    cp = require('child_process');

cp.spawn(__dirname + '/test.docx');

Thanks in advance.

I arrived here and missed the question was Electron-specific. The accepted solution will only work inside an Electron app. There is a separate question for Node.js in general, outside of an Electron app: stackoverflow.com/q/8500326/62269 — Bluu
– Bluu, Commented Jun 11, 2018 at 22:42

Alex · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-01 20:35:01Z

31

Use the openItem() function provided by Electron's shell module, for example:

const shell = require('electron').shell;
const path = require('path');

shell.openItem(path.join(__dirname, 'test.docx'));

According to the docs the shell module should be available in both the main/browser and renderer processes.

Note: Electron 9.0.0 The shell.openItem API has been replaced with an asynchronous shell.openPath API. shell.openPath docs

edited Jul 1, 2020 at 20:35

Alex

69.4k25 gold badges150 silver badges133 bronze badges

answered Mar 7, 2016 at 10:00

Vadim Macagon

14.9k2 gold badges55 silver badges45 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

django Over a year ago

Can we get a closed signal ? Is there a call back where I would know application was closed ?

Vadim Macagon Over a year ago

@django No, this is a fire and forget sort of thing. If you want to detect if an external application has closed you'll need to spawn it using child_process.spawn.

django Over a year ago

@VadimMacagon I have been trying ls.on('close' event but it gets fired as soon as ms word is opened. Can you please post example or should i create another question for it ?

27px Over a year ago

Is it possible to show apps/softwares that can open the file, instead of opening it in default app. Example svg file opens in browser by default. I want to let the user choose another app like notepad or other code editor etc. Is that possible?

Artur Carvalho · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-09 13:41:06Z

1

Adding here the snippet for newer electron versions (9+) and imports:

import { shell } from 'electron';
import path from 'path';

shell.openPath(path.join(__dirname, 'test.docx'));

answered Apr 9, 2021 at 13:41

Artur Carvalho

7,20711 gold badges80 silver badges116 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Open external file with OS' default application (docx with Word, etc.) using NodeJS and Electron

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related