Go to local URL with Javascript

Question

Same question as here but I need to go to local URL's in Firefox

I tried with code like

var url = "file:///E:/Test/Test.htm";
window.location.href = url;

but id didn't work. Tried to go with window.location = url; and also tried with url = "file://E:/Test/Test.htm"; (double "/" instead of triple "/") and still doesn't work.

Thanks

Cerbrus · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27 10:15:19Z

16

When I try this:

window.location.href = "file:///C:/Users/Cerbrus/Documents/SomeFile.js"

^{(Yes, it is a valid path.)}

Chrome throws me this error:

Not allowed to load local resource: file:///C:/Users//Documents/File.js

This is because JavaScript does not have access to local files (due to it being sandboxed), and you're setting the new url with JavaScript.
"SandBoxed" means a technology has restricted (or no) access outside a certain set of bounds. In the case of browsers, this means that the code that runs on the page can not access files on your system (Otherwise, it would be easy to "steal" data, by just having a look at the user's file system).

However,

Say, I have 2 files:

C:/Test/Test.htm
C:/Test/Test1.htm

Test.htm contains only this:

<script>
    window.location = "file:///C:/Test/Test1.htm";
</script>

This will actually redirect to Test1.htm, since the target file is on the same domain as where the source file's from.

edited Dec 27, 2012 at 10:15

answered Dec 27, 2012 at 9:42

Cerbrus

73.3k19 gold badges138 silver badges151 bronze badges

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

4 Comments

Cerbrus Over a year ago

(Sidenote: I'm not entirely convinced the "Same Origin Policy" isn't playing a role here, since we're also changing the protocol to file:.)

BearCode Over a year ago

Awesome answer! So the script doesn't work from a hosted webpage but it works from a local htm file. But how about Bookmarklets? I need my script in a Bookmarklet. Didn't work for me but Bookmarlkets are local, what is the reason for that? And thanks to the other people who answered too.

Cerbrus Over a year ago

That doesn't seem to work, either, @BearBear: javascript:(function(){window.location="file:///C:/Test/Test1.htm";}()); <-- That gives the same error. I'm guessing the Test.htm example I mentioned works, because the source file is local already, so the file:/<etc> is included in the sandbox.

apsillers Over a year ago

It's not clear to me how navigating a top-level browsing context to a file: URL could give any information to the navigating script, since the navigating script will obviously be terminated. The only case I think where this could potentially be a problem is a file: resource in an iframe which might leak some kind of onload information, e.g., the existence or size of a file, based on load time. I cannot think of any case in which the navigation of a top-level browsing context could cause information leakage to the navigating script, but I could see it for iframes.

Akhil Sekharan · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27 09:40:19Z

5

I guess its not allowed to load local resource from javascript

Unless you have a local http server running:

var url = "http://localhost/MySite/Default.aspx";
window.location.href = url;

It will work

answered Dec 27, 2012 at 9:40

Akhil Sekharan

12.7k8 gold badges43 silver badges58 bronze badges

Comments

Shiv Kumar Ganesh · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27 09:41:33Z

1

You cannot access the file from the local system. Since the Browser works in the sandbox mode and you cannot breach the sandbox and reach the local file system since it would violate the security. Either try to directly load using an AJAX request else what you are trying to do is not possible due to sandbox restrictions and also does not comply with the security policies.

answered Dec 27, 2012 at 9:41

Shiv Kumar Ganesh

3,82510 gold badges50 silver badges85 bronze badges

5 Comments

Arun Killu Over a year ago

if am opening the html as file:///C:/Users/arun.ak/Desktop/somting.html same rule applies?

Cerbrus Over a year ago

@ArunKillu: Yes. JavaScript can't access that file from a different domain.

Arun Killu Over a year ago

@Cerbrus that i know but when we open the html in which js is written with just a double click (as a file ) then the redirection works

Cerbrus Over a year ago

@ArunKillu: If that (the html running from file:) were the case, OP's code would have worked, and he wouldn't have asked the question.

Arun Killu Over a year ago

@Cerbrus hmm...that i understood later only...i also deleted my answer.but i was not able to convince you.

Bmil · Accepted Answer · 2019-03-13 13:58:21Z

-1

window.location.href = window.location.pathname + (your local file name or path)

answered Mar 13, 2019 at 13:58

Bmil

3612 silver badges14 bronze badges

Comments

arvin_codeHunk · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-27 09:41:41Z

-5

window.open(url); // here url can be anything

answered Dec 27, 2012 at 9:41

arvin_codeHunk

2,4108 gold badges35 silver badges48 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Go to local URL with Javascript

5 Answers 5

4 Comments

Comments

5 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

5 Answers 5

4 Comments

Comments

5 Comments

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related