Java, Windows, open firefox

Question

I am trying to open up a new tab in firefox (or just a new window) from my java program. I am transferring the code over from Ubuntu to Windows 7. I am doing something like this but it is throwing an exception.

Runtime rt = null;
...
rt =  Runtime.getRuntime();
...
rt.exec("C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe");

Probably a compiler error, since `GetRuntime()` isn't a method. (`getRuntime()`) — asteri, Dec 31 '12 at 18:41
Worth remembering that if you are on a 64 bit Win7 system firefox will live in Program Files(x86) by default — Kevin D, Dec 31 '12 at 18:42
Kevin D, So how might I go about navigating to a page as it is opening? KEVIN D was right, it is under Program Files (x86) — , Dec 31 '12 at 18:43
Have a look here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/194157/c-sharp-how-to-get-program-files-x86-on-windows-vista-64-bit — Frank van Puffelen, Dec 31 '12 at 18:51

Jan B · Answer 1 · 2012-12-31T18:54:19.797

3

You may want to take a look at the java.awt.Desktop.browse(URI uri) method. This opens the given uri in the default browser on the system and has the benefit that it will also work on non-Windows systems.

edited Dec 31 '12 at 18:54

answered Dec 31 '12 at 18:45

Jan B

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`browse` method is not static. To get object on which JVM can invoke it we can use something like `java.awt.Desktop.getDesktop().browse(new URI("www.google.com"));` – Pshemo Dec 31 '12 at 18:58

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 31 '12 at 18:55

1

The folowing worked for me to open up firefox and a new tab for google.com

rt.exec("C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe google.com");

edited Dec 31 '12 at 18:55

John Dvorak

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answered Dec 31 '12 at 18:50

Kevin D

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 06 '13 at 06:56

There is uniform way to open browser: (at least it works like a charm at my desktop)

// Start browser
if (Desktop.isDesktopSupported()) {  
    Desktop dt = Desktop.getDesktop();  
    if (dt.isSupported(Desktop.Action.BROWSE)) {  
        File f = new File(filePath);
        dt.browse(f.toURI());  
    }  
}

score 0 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 31 '12 at 18:55

0

For windows, you can try the following.

rt.exec("cmd /c C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/firefox.exe");

or

String[] commands = {"cmd", "/c", "C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/firefox.exe"};  
rt.exec(commands);

edited Dec 31 '12 at 18:55

John Dvorak

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answered Dec 31 '12 at 18:44

muruga

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Thanks @JanDvorak, the escape is there. But in SO, it shows only one backslash though. – muruga Dec 31 '12 at 18:47
My problem was I didnt choose the x86 program files... Anyone know how to have it navigate to a page after opening? – Dec 31 '12 at 18:49
@BumSkeeter you can refer to firefox.exe arguments. You can pass the URL as a parameter as well in the commands array. – muruga Dec 31 '12 at 18:50
@muruga didn't know Markdown applied `\\ `=>`\ `. Seems I have a new thing to learn :-) – John Dvorak Dec 31 '12 at 18:56

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 07 '19 at 21:23

0

The solutions proposed above did not work with me (win 10), however a small manipulation solved my problem (add just start in front of /c

rt.exec("cmd /c start firefox");

answered May 07 '19 at 21:23

Thierno Abdoulaye

1

Java, Windows, open firefox

5 Answers5