Open file:// in default web browser

hennesse has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I want to open a "file://" url in the user's default web browser. Using "ShellExecute" as suggested in Perl Windows Open a Web Browser works fine for http:// urls, but for file:// ones, it may open the file in whatever application the file extension is associated with, such as Notepad for .txt files.

The reason is that I want the user to be able to view my application's log files, help files etc. on their local system in a consistent interface (their browser). The consistent interface would obviously make life easier for the user, and easier for the "Directions-writer" (me).

So I'm wondering if there's any way to tell Windows to execute the default web browser application with the url as a parameter or somesuch.

Thanks - Dave

Comment on Open file:// in default web browser

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Re: Open file:// in default web browser by ww (Archbishop) on Dec 14, 2011 at 18:58 UTC
try "`file:///...`" (three slashes, not two)	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Open file:// in default web browser by Anonymous Monk on Dec 14, 2011 at 19:22 UTC
HTML::Display, URI::file `perl -MURI::file -le " print URI::file->cwd "`	[reply] [d/l]
Re: Open file:// in default web browser by afoken (Chancellor) on Dec 17, 2011 at 16:22 UTC
Try a local webserver, make ist listen only on localhost (or any arbitary address in the 127.0.0.0/8 "network"), and use HTTP URLs instead. File-URLs are handled differently in each browser, and you will end building work-arounds for work-arounds for work-arounds. Alexander -- Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)	[reply]
Re^2: Open file:// in default web browser by Anonymous Monk on Jan 30, 2015 at 07:44 UTC
can you please share how to open files in shared location using http:// instead of file:/// .Firefox & Chrome features does not allow to access file url from web page. I'm looking for an alternative to open txt, doc, docx files from webpage which are placed in shared path. Thanks in advance.	[reply]