Java 6 Desktop open

Question

I want to be able to open files with the default application from java. The Desktop class works for this when using:
1. local filepaths
2. network drives
3. UNC pathnames
but does not when the UNC pathnames have spaces in them!
Does anyone know how to solve this problem?

Answer 1

Hi,
I also have the same problem, but with my JNI and C++ expertise, I was able to isolate the problem.
My platform:
- Microsoft Windows XP, Family Edition (French), Version 2002, Service Pack 3
- JRE 1.6.0_21
In the source of the JDK6 (Src/windows/classes/sun/awt/windows/WDesktopPeer.java), the Desktop.open(file) calls the native method
ShellExecute(*uri.toString()*, "open")
For example, if you try to open "c:\helloworld.pdf",
uri.toString() = "*file:/c:/helloworld.pdf*"if I call ShellExecute("C:\\helloworld.pdf", "open"), it works
but if I call ShellExecute(" file:/c:/helloworld.pdf", "open"), it doesn't work on my platform.
In both case, the ShellExecuteW or ShellExecuteA function of the Windows API return the integer 42 (> 32), saying that the functions succeeded. If the file object is not correct, the function should return a value <= 32.
=> The bug is not due to Java implementation, but to a bug in the Windows API.
Other remark:
I also tried the "ShellExec_RunDLL" entry point of the Shell32.dll library using RunDll32 utility. Both commands below are running correctly:
rundll32 SHELL32.DLL,ShellExec_RunDLL "C:\hello.pdf"
rundll32 SHELL32.DLL,ShellExec_RunDLL "file:/C:/hello.pdf"My conclusion:
1) A workaround could be implemented in the JRE: use the file path without the "file:/" protocol prefix.
2) This bug seems to be present only one some version of Windows XP (to confirm).
Rodolphe.