Set default browser when debugging WPF?

Question

I'm using VWD Express 2008 to develop a WPF Browser Application. When I start debugging, it launches the XBAP in my default browser, which is Opera. Obviously, XBAPs don't work in Opera, so I have to repeatedly right-click on the document to open in IE.

Is there any way to change the settings for PresentationHost.exe so that it always opens with IE? A registry setting, perhaps?

Answer 1

XBAP does work in Opera (and I can make a screenshot to prove the point). Consider updating your Opera version and/or .NET (do you have SP1?).

Answer 2

Check out this post on the msdn forums.

The workaround I found works OK, but requires that Firefox be your default browser:

In Firefox, open the menu Tools / Options / Downloads.

Then click on "View & edit actions" and change the action for XBAP applications to the Windows Presentation Host.

Now when I debug, Firefox receives the XBAP, but then it automatically pass it to the presentation host, which runs into IE. A bit cumbersome, because everytime a new tab gets opened in Firefox, but it's OK. It also works with F5, so you can debug.

Alternatively, you can start IE, navigate to the XBAP URL and then manually attach the debugger to the PresentationHost process (not to IE though).

Answer 3

A simple and easy way to do this is to associate *.htm or *.html (don't remember exactly, try both) files with IE, and it will work for XBAP.

UPDATE:

Solution described above works for "Start external program option".

For "Start browser with URL" option you actually can set default browser in Visual Studio. I don't find how to set it through Tools -> Options, but you can achieve it by following steps:

1. In your solution explorer find a file which meant to be viewed in browser (e.g. *.htm, *.svc)
2. Right click on this item and choose "Browse With..."
3. In the opened window you'll see a list box with installed browser and one of them will be marked as default.
4. In the list box Choose "Internet Explorer" and click "Set as Default" (if there is no IE browser in the list just add it).