Firefox File Links Take 2 - URL Protocol Handler
- 2
- Add a Comment
Update 15-12-2007: for smb links, I noticed that the handler would throw an error message when a login to the server hosting a resource had not yet been done regardless of the existence of the resource. I changed the handler so that it will try to open the resource in explorer if it is not a file. (It may still be a file - but we can’t see due to the missing login - so we open the resource in explorer to login.)
In a previous blog entry I presented my solution in .net for adding opening file links functionality to Firefox.
A nuisance of the solution is the black cmd.exe box that appears every time a link is clicked. In addition the .net framework must be installed, which it is not in spite of Microsoft’s efforts.
Recently I saw an example of some jscript, which started an external program. When interpreted by wscript.exe (Windows Scripting Host) there are no popups. So I wrote a new script to replace the functionality of smb.exe.
In the mean time I had found a need for opening Remote Desktop Protocol (rdp) links from the browser. I decided to extend the jscript to become a general and extensible protocol handler. So, at present, the url_protocol_handler.js script will open smb and rdp links.
The program with instructions for installation and extensions can be downloaded here.

2 Comments
awarberg
March 30th, 2008
at 1:44am
I agree. From the mozillazine page http://kb.mozillazine.org/Links_to_local_pages_don%27t_work we are informed that:
“For security purposes, Mozilla applications block links to local files (and directories) from remote files.”
And then go on to listing a number of exploits which are avoided.
I guess Microsoft does not consider this feature a security risk for Internet Explorer, but they also have the Zones concept which might be useful in this respect.
Firefox file links ~ Note to self and others
May 21st, 2008
at 7:14pm
[…] Update 04-12-2007: please see my latest blog entry on handling of file links in Firefox (and other protocols) here. […]