Opening html file at bookmark

R ON

I can't get my C# program to open the html page at the desired location.

E.g.

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"C:\file.htm");

works fine. It opens the page at the top.

But if I type

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"C:\file.htm#bookmark");

it still just opens at the top of the page (instead of at the bookmark where I want it to open.

Any ideas?

9 Replies

Know the answer? Post it — somebody with the same question will find it here.

Sam Hobbs15y ago
If you are not familiar with adding references then it is something that is very important to learn.

Go to the Solution Explorer and in your project right-click on the "References" node. Then select "Add Reference..." (at the top of the context menu). A window will open with tabs along the top for .Net, COM, Projects, Browse and Recent. The shdocvw.dll is quite elusive, so for that file, use the Browse tab. Just browse to C:\Wiindows\System32\shdocvw.dll (the path might be a little different for your system).

Note that in the code I posted, "SHDocVw" is the namespace name. You can add a "using SHDocVw;" so you do not need to put "SHDocVw." in your source code but I prefer not to do that. Similarly, you could use a "using System.Diagnostics;" to avoid putting "System.Diagnostics." in the program.

So in the future, when you see something saying to add a reference for something, you have a clue to what that means. There are many details, but at least now you have a clue. Usually for .Net programs when it says to add a reference, you must add a reference.
Zoran Horvat15y ago
It's OK Sam :)
R ON15y ago
And how would I do that? :S
Sam Hobbs15y ago
R ON, I said that you need to add a reference for shdocvw.

Zoran, I am sorry that I misunderstood you.
R ON15y ago
I have used IE, Firefox and Google Chrome
R ON15y ago
Error: The type or namespace name 'SHDocVw' could not be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)
Zoran Horvat15y ago
Sam, the statement that I gave above has really worked on my computer, using Mozilla browser:
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"http://www.b92.net/info/komentari.php?nav_id=530780#k5592722");

This is a long page and it gets opened somewhere in the middle when this executes, exactly where the corresponding anchor in HTML is located.

However, other browsers might not act the same. As you said, it is possible to start particular browser from code and then to enforce it opening particular URL which includes bookmark.

Zoran
Sam Hobbs15y ago
I think Zoran either is not familiar with bookmarks such as that or just did not realize what you meant. Zoran knows many things.

That is an intersting challenge. I am not sure how to solve that problem. Oh, wait; I have an idea.

You could do something such as the following, which uses the InternetExplorer Object. To do this, you need to add a reference to SHDocVw.dll which is in your Windows\System32 directory.

SHDocVw.InternetExplorer ie = new SHDocVw.InternetExplorer();
ie.Visible = true;
ie.Navigate(@"C:\file.htm#bookmark");
Zoran Horvat15y ago
Your HTML file is probably too short so that scrollbar is disabled.

Try this url:
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(@"http://www.b92.net/info/komentari.php?nav_id=530780#k5592722");

That will open in the middle of the page as it should - at least it did to me.

If it doesn't, then please state which Web browser are you using. I'm using Firefox and this statement above works fine.

Zoran