c# detect an open web browser

Question

I am writing a program that searches certain web pages before closing. I would like my program to open a NEW WINDOW using the DEFAULT BROWSER. I can have my program focus the newest window instance, and then it will close that instance once it is done.

I have been staring at WebBrowser.Navigate and System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(target) all day but I cant find the sweet spot with either of them.

WebBrowser.Navigate always opens IE, I have been looking in the API and can't find a way to change the program used. Does anyone else see something that I dont? Is there a way to change the application used?

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(target) opens in a new tab, not a new window like navigate does. However none of the overloaded functions from the API have a way of saying "create a new instance or window".

this is my issue, they both have pieces that I want, but I cant figure out how to get the pieces I need for either one.

I would be extremely grateful for you help. I have been looking for hours now and I can seem to come to a solution.

code sample for Jester:

            Process defaultbrowser = new Process();


            defaultbrowser.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
            defaultbrowser = Process.Start(target);       

            int waitTime = Convert.ToInt32(numericUpDown2.Value);
           System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(waitTime*1000);

           defaultbrowser.CloseMainWindow();
           defaultbrowser.Close();

furthermore my Close() function is causing a runtime error that says;

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

which seems silly because too me the above code makes me think that my defaultbrowser is an instance of a process, which is then supposed to be able to call the non-static function "close()".

Jester · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-07 06:22:29Z

2

ok If I got your problem right you are looking for a way to open a web page in the "default" browser.

That can be done by simply make a new process like:

Process.Start("http://google.com");

If you would like to control witch browser gets used you can do it by passing the web address to the browser's exe file as a parameter:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("PATH to exe", "Command Line Arguments");

To start the process in the new window pass a ProcessInfo object to the Process.Start And set the CreateNoWindow more info on that

edited Aug 7, 2014 at 6:22

answered Aug 7, 2014 at 6:14

Jester

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1 Comment

ForgottenOne Over a year ago

ok, I think you hit the nail on the head with CreateNoWindow. I was unaware of that property. However when I use it exactly as the API does, it doesnt open in a new window for some reason. Any ideas? I will post the relevant code in my question above for you to see. Perhaps I have an error.

Neeraj · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-07 06:19:52Z

0

Hey To check if it's loaded wherever, do:

if(browser.ReadyState == WebBrowserReadyState.Complete) {
// It's Open!
}

answered Aug 7, 2014 at 6:19

Neeraj

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2 Comments

ForgottenOne Over a year ago

awesome, that is a huge help! the Microsoft support pages are so huge I have trouble finding what I need. Thank you

Neeraj Over a year ago

Thanks for comment,If post is really helpful for you please mark as answer.

Panayotis · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-07 06:20:37Z

0

You should use System.Diagnostics.Process like that:

Process Chrome = new Process(); //Create the process
Chrome.StartInfo.FileName = @"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe";  // Needs to be full path
Chrome.StartInfo.Arguments = ""; // If you have any arguments
Chrome.Start();

answered Aug 7, 2014 at 6:20

Panayotis

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