Launch file:// from Firefox/Chrome

Question

I am looking to be able to launch a network file on our local intranet using FF or Chrome

Currently the link work good in IE

<a href="\\Start\Of\My\Network\file.xlsx">View Report</a>&nbsp;

but in FF it show

<a href="http://mydomain.com/\\Start\Of\My\Network\file.xlsx"&gt;View Report</a>&nbsp;

is there a way to get the link to render properly...Just a simple click from a href tag.

Answer 1

This is not enabled in firefox for security reasons (remember that most computers have files and applications of a sensitive nature located in similar locations, like C:\System\Windows)

you can try adding this to the user.js file for any user that needs to be able to access these links:

user_pref("capability.policy.policynames", "localfilelinks");
user_pref("capability.policy.localfilelinks.sites", "file:///[[PUT SERVER NAME HERE]]";);
user_pref("capability.policy.localfilelinks.checkloaduri.enabled",  "allAccess");

Just remember that this is a security risk.

Answer 2

Firefox seems to want file://///Start/Of/My/Network/file.xlsx

Chrome and IE handles that too. file://Start/Of/My/Network/file.xlsx appears to work in Chrome as well, sometimes firefox hics up on it..

Answer 3

For Chrome, a new extension was just posted today! It's called LocalLinks and it replicates the functionality of the locallink add-on for Firefox! You'll find it on the Google Extensions page, or you can get to it directly here:

https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/jllpkdkcdjndhggodimiphkghogcpida

Enjoy!