Reference > Script steps reference > Miscellaneous script steps > Open URL
 
Open URL
Purpose 
Allows the user to open a URL.
See also 
Format 
Open URL [With dialog: On/Off; <URL>]
Options 
With dialog specifies whether to display the “Open URL” Options dialog box when the script step is performed.
URL allows you to type the URL or to create your URL from a calculation.
Compatibility 
 
Where the script step runs 
Supported 
FileMaker Pro 
Yes 
FileMaker Server 
No 
FileMaker Go 
Yes 
Custom Web Publishing 
No 
FileMaker WebDirect 
Partial 
Runtime solution 
Yes 
Originated in 
FileMaker Pro 6.0 or earlier
Description 
Open URL supports http, https, ldap, ldaps, ftp, file, and mailto URL types, using the application registered with the operating system for each URL type. For example, if the URL starts with http, FileMaker Pro opens the user's web browser and processes the URL.
If the specified URL contains spaces or other special characters, replace the characters with the corresponding encoded values required for valid URLs. For example, replace "@" with "%40".
Note  FileMaker WebDirect does not support the file:// protocol.
Example 1 
Opens the user's web browser and displays the FileMaker, Inc. homepage.
Open URL [With dialog: Off; "http://www.filemaker.com/"]
Example 2 
Opens Windows Notepad and opens the file My_File.txt on the root level of the user's hard disk.
Open URL [With dialog: Off; "file://c:/My_File.txt"]
Example 3 
Launches the default email application, opens a new email message, and uses the value in the Email field to address the message.
Open URL [With dialog: Off; "mailto:" & Customers::Email]
Example 4 
Opens a shared FileMaker Pro file running on another system.
Open URL [With dialog: Off; "fmp://account:password@host/database"]
#where "account" is the FileMaker Pro account name, "password" is the account password, "host" is a DNS entry, IPv4 address, or IPv6 address for the machine where the file resides, and "database" is the FileMaker Pro filename.
Important  Account name and password information entered in an Open URL script step is visible to users with script editing access privileges, and is therefore not secure.
Related topics 
Script steps reference (alphabetical list)
Script steps reference (category list)