C# Hyperlink in TextBlock: nothing happens when I click on it

Question

In my C# standalone application, I want to let users click on a link that would launch their favorite browser.

System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock text = new TextBlock();
Run run = new Run("Link Text");

Hyperlink link = new Hyperlink(run);
link.NavigateUri = new Uri("http://w3.org");
text.Inlines.Add(link);

The link is displayed correctly.

When I move the mouse over it, the link becomes red.

PROBLEM: When I click it, nothing happens.

Did I forget something? Do I need to implement some kind of method to really let the link be opened?

score 35 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 05 '12 at 08:59

35

You need to handle the hyperlink's RequestNavigate event. Here's a quick way of doing it:

link.RequestNavigate += (sender, e) =>
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(e.Uri.ToString());
};

answered Oct 05 '12 at 08:59

markmuetz

9,334
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Simon Brydon · Answer 2 · 2012-10-05T09:37:42.790

7

Are you handling the 'Hyperlink.RequestNavigate' event? When a user clicks a Hyperlink in a WPF window it doesn't automatically open a browser with the URI specified in its NavigateUri property.

In your code-behind you can do something like:

link.RequestNavigate += LinkOnRequestNavigate;

private void LinkOnRequestNavigate(object sender, RequestNavigateEventArgs e)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(e.Uri.ToString());
}

edited Oct 05 '12 at 09:37

answered Oct 05 '12 at 09:01

Simon Brydon

985
8
12

2

WPF Hyperlink is nearly useless. I want it to launch the URL using url set in xaml, otherwise why don't I just use a label and button with my view viewmodel. – Gary Kindel Jan 22 '19 at 19:58

Patrick · Answer 3 · 2022-02-01T14:05:59.250

2

You can make a global hyperlink handler in your App.xaml.cs

protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
    EventManager.RegisterClassHandler(
        typeof(System.Windows.Documents.Hyperlink),
        System.Windows.Documents.Hyperlink.RequestNavigateEvent,
        new System.Windows.Navigation.RequestNavigateEventHandler(
            (sender, en) => Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(
                en.Uri.ToString()
            ) { UseShellExecute = true })
        )
    );
    base.OnStartup(e);
}

This assumes all the NavigateUri properties refer to something you want to launch, but you can always make the handler take care of edge cases.

edited Feb 01 '22 at 14:05

answered Mar 04 '21 at 15:19

Patrick

1,766
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27

This doesn't work in .NET 6.0 – demberto Jan 28 '22 at 11:52
1

Actually it was 5 that broke it, it needs UseShellExecute = true – Patrick Jan 28 '22 at 17:36
Actually it should be `en.Uri.ToString()` instead of `e.Uri.ToString()`. – demberto Jan 31 '22 at 18:59

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 16 '21 at 21:57

For those in .Net Core, the way you do this has changed. Based on this answer and this.

link.RequestNavigate += (sender, e) =>
{
    var url = e.Uri.ToString();
    Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(url)
    { 
        UseShellExecute = true 
    });
};

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered May 13 '22 at 09:47

Working with a command is also possible:

<TextBlock>
    See our <Hyperlink NavigateUri="https://www.example.com" Command="{Binding OpenPrivacyPolicyCommand}">Privacy Policy</Hyperlink>
</TextBlock>

The command needs to call open the URL then:

Process.Start(url);

C# Hyperlink in TextBlock: nothing happens when I click on it

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