Opening a mapped Windows Explorer folder using HTML hyperlink from Microsoft Edge

2
votes

I'm trying to open mapped network folders from a simple LAN portal at work to get users to access shared files. Previously I used:

<a href = "file:///...">

This opens a Windows Explorer window in IE11 (and earlier) and a file browser tab in Chrome, but it has no effect when the hyperlink is clicked in Microsoft Edge. How can I give users folder access directly from Edge?

2
htmlwindowsinternet-explorerhyperlinkmicrosoft-edge
I'm surprised IE allows file:/// to be opened, most modern browsers should not allow this since this is a huge security issue. (Imagine a site suddenly opens one of your applications) – Bk Santiago
@Bk Santiago: Why single out IE? The asker mentioned that Chrome does something similar. And neither browser runs an application when directed to it, both download it. Which is equally insecure on part of both browsers without warning the user that an executable might be malicious, but at least they don't run it straight away. Browsers have supported file: URIs for decades. – BoltClock

2 Answers

1
votes

IE has a lot of legacy support and so it would still be able to do this in IE11. It was possible for windows explorer and internet explorer to interchange and switch as needed long ago.

Edge ditches a lot of legacy support in exchange for speed. This is something that was probably removed (and not likely to be added on in the future)

1
votes

Edge requires mapped LAN locations to be specified in the UNC-format, while IE used to be more agnostic about it. For more information about UNC-paths check out this link.

<p><a href = "file:///P:\somenetworkfolder"> Some Network Folder (Only works in IE)</a></p>
<p><a href = "\\servername\path\somenetworkfolder"> Some Network Folder (Works in Edge and IE)</a></p>

Out of interest, if you want similar functionality in Chrome, you have to use an extension to grant the browser permission to open Windows Explorer. Check out the Local Explorer Chrome Extension, or write your own.