Help links always open in Internet Explorer

ProfCrazyHorse · Post by **ProfCrazyHorse** » 2009 Dec 22, 18:07

Whenever I click on a help link, it opens up in IE instead of my default browser (Firefox).

Any ideas?

Kilmatead · Post by **Kilmatead** » 2009 Dec 22, 19:52

This behaviour was debated (and equally decried by the populous) during the recent beta testing, however Nikos' response was unforgiving, blameless, and cruelly indifferent:

nikos (from [url=http://forum.zabkat.com/viewtopic.php?p=45295#45295]this[/url] thread) wrote:Embedding other browsers like firefox could be possible but it's not something i would want to do

i don't intentionally open links in IE, but the quickviewer etc in x2 are IE and all links open in an external window using the standard html <a target="_blank"> token, which seems to be using whatever browser the page is listed on, not the default browser. If anyone knows a way around this please let me know

We must "live with it", like the rain, it would seem.

ProfCrazyHorse · Post by **ProfCrazyHorse** » 2009 Dec 23, 02:22

That's really out of sync. My guess is that most users of X2 are advanced users who loathe using Internet Exploder. I'm one of them.

Thanks for clearing that up for me, Kilmatead.

Post by **nikos** » 2009 Dec 23, 07:49

although in general xplorer2 embeds IE, the help system (when you click on those ?? in dialogs isn't bound to it. There's an undocumented (as i've just discovered) global setting that you can use to add firefox's path to be used for help:

* global registry string szAltBrowser can contain path for browser executable other than the default internet explorer

most probably this won't exist so just create a string value with this name under HKCU\Software\ZabaraKatranemia Plc\xplorer2_UC.global while xplorer2 isn't running

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2009 Dec 23, 14:10

Preference-1: x2 does this itself- no user intervention required at all.
Preference-2: This option is not through registry tweaking (program option)

BTW many other applicationsw also launch browsers for their help file, but they can use FF. So why is x2 the only application needing IE?

Robert2 · Post by **Robert2** » 2009 Dec 23, 14:49

I use “The World Browser” (http://www.ioage.com/en/index.htm) which is based on the IE8 engine. The World Browser has an option to “Use The World as default browser”. All xplorer² help links open automatically in The World Browser, bypassing IE8 itself. I did not need to tweak the registry.
Windows XP SP3.

narayan · Post by **narayan** » 2009 Dec 23, 14:57

My earlier post was strictly with reference to the question of registry tweaking.

I use FF (but naturally) and x2's Help>Quick start always launches FF only (never IE). Using Win XP SP-3

Kilmatead · Post by **Kilmatead** » 2009 Dec 23, 16:34

Robert2 wrote:All xplorer² help links open automatically in The World Browser, bypassing IE8 itself. I did not need to tweak the registry.

I think you'll find that clicking on any of the links in the Help > "How Do I?" section (aimed at new users, after all) will invoke IE in spite of your chosen "World" browser. It's this inconsistency which lends itself to annoyance - especially as Quick Start does indeed respect default browser status.

The interesting thing here is one of ergonomics: if this were an issue of default settings in x2, most people wouldn't really care... but it just so happens that (for whatever reason) those who choose never to use IE find it rather offensive when an application they otherwise like invokes it. Exactly why people get uppity about these things is anybody's guess. Probably the same thing as women and mice. (Hey, it's Christmas; Sexist Stereotypes are all the rage in this season of middle-class secular humanistic vomit.

Somebody's gotta be the Grinch, after all.)

Post by **nikos** » 2009 Dec 23, 16:57

my, are we in an unfestive mood or what? i recommend "mr hankey's christmas classics" with some port or belgian beer :P

i can't see why people are all worked up with IE. Do you know that firefox is actually top of the bugs?

at least IE is automatically patched for important flaws through windows update.

Kilmatead · Post by **Kilmatead** » 2009 Dec 23, 17:20

A glass of Courvoisier, actually, and I'm dying for a cigarette.

Firefox is self-updating as well, and indeed for major "bugs" a darn sight quicker than MS's leisurely second Tuesday of the month type of pace.

IE is just so... so... well, it's just wrong. (Yes, I could list many justifiable reasons, but this isn't the thread for it.) All that needs be known is that those who don't like it, don't like it rather vehemently, vociferously, and vocally.

Yes, Courvoisier. Port? Oi, scummy wine, that is, innit, Gov?

Robert2 · Post by **Robert2** » 2009 Dec 23, 19:14

Hi Kilmatead,
I share your distaste of IE. This is why I use The World Browser which I find most convenient (it uses the IE8 engine in an optimized way with “multi-threaded mode for tabs”).

I have had to use Firefox in the recent past to test Web site or HTML help pages I had created. I have only one positive thing to say about Firefox: if you write “orthodox” HTML code in the normal “classical” way and test them in Firefox, Firefox displays the corresponding Web pages as intended and as expected. IE8 often misbehaves in this respect. In other words, it is much preferable to test Web pages for conformity in Firefox first. What looks good in Firefox also looks good in IE8. But I learnt the hard way that the reverse is not true. Pages that look good in IE8 often end up looking very poorly in Firefox. The code has to be rewritten to accommodate both Firefox and IE8.

Now these are all the good things I can say about Firefox. I find its GUI drab and awkward, and contrary to reputation, it is rather slow compared to The World Browser.

Finally, I insist that clicking on any of the links in the xplorer² “Help > How Do I?” section does not invoke IE on my system. These xplorer² links (and all similar outside links for that matter) do open in my chosen "World" browser.

Kilmatead · Post by **Kilmatead** » 2009 Dec 23, 19:47

Robert2 wrote:Finally, I insist that clicking on any of the links in the xplorer² “Help > How Do I?” section does not invoke IE on my system. These xplorer² links (and all similar outside links for that matter) do open in my chosen "World" browser.

I'll take your word for it, but having just went through the bother of installing your (very Apple-looking) browser to test, Win7 x64 most certainly does not obey the "default browser" status - regardless of which browser it may be set to.

I've no great explanation for this discrepancy.

(What is this fascination people have with the speed of browsers? Chrome nonsense, et al. If a page is rendered in .4 of a second compared to .3 it's suddenly the end of the world. Where were you people when 300 baud modems were cutting edge? This is a weird trendy complaint, apparently for people with slow processors and an ISP who's too generous. When the technocracy finally becomes humanity's undoing, the children of the current generation will be quite unhappy and I will justly celebrate their misery. [That's not directed at you Robert2, that was just a random observation of a common reason people switch browsers; and as you still never said where you buried Robert1's corpse, we'll be very careful around you

].)

johngalt · Post by **johngalt** » 2009 Dec 24, 02:33

End the debate. Install the help file and then it directly opens the .PDF locally.

If you want to get online, but hate using IE, try using Browser Chooser - http://browserchooser.codeplex.com/

I use it with much success so *I* am able to intercept 95% of all attempts at opening a browser and choose which one *I* want it to use.

It is customizable, so you're not forced to choose only between Fx / Chrome / Opera / IE - you can add custom browsers like Avant, The World, GreenBrowser, or any other.

And the best part is that it works for me whenever I hit anything from the help menu that tries to open a browser, it opens BC instead - with the exception of Quick start, which opens in Fx on my system.

Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit.

Robert2 · Post by **Robert2** » 2009 Dec 24, 13:09

Kilmatead wrote: I've no great explanation for this discrepancy.

Hi,
Those whose default browser remains IE against their will might want to check the following:

1. Update to the latest IE8 version. This is because MS has changed the way IE behaves as a default browser in the latest IE version(s).
2. Go to MS Update, download and install all the latest security updates. Some of them are related to IE8.
3. Open IE8. Click “Tools | Internet Options…” Open the “Programs” tab and make sure that you get a caption on that tab saying that “Internet Explorer is not currently the default Web browser”.
4. Close IE8 if it's running, then start Firefox if it’s your browser. Click “Tools | Options…” Choose the Advanced icon in the Options toolbar. Open the “General” tab and make sure that “Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup” is enabled. Click “Check Now” and confirm that you want Firefox as your default browser. OK out of the dialog.
HTH.

(What is this fascination people have with the speed of browsers? Chrome nonsense, et al. If a page is rendered in .4 of a second compared to .3 it's suddenly the end of the world. Where were you people when 300 baud modems were cutting edge? This is a weird trendy complaint, apparently for people with slow processors and an ISP who's too generous. When the technocracy finally becomes humanity's undoing, the children of the current generation will be quite unhappy and I will justly celebrate their misery. [That's not directed at you Robert2, that was just a random observation of a common reason people switch browsers;

I am on a slow 56k dial-up connection… Browser speed is very relevant.

and as you still never said where you buried Robert1's corpse, we'll be very careful around you ].)

“Robert2” was born when I realized that “Robert” and “Robert1” weren’t available as avatars on most forums… I assume that “Robert” and “Robert1” have their own happy lives…

May Santa be extra good to you all! Merry Christmas!

wperkins99 · Post by **wperkins99** » 2009 Dec 27, 17:32

I'd like to backtrack a little in this discussion (without getting involved in merits or demerits of web browsers), to Nikos' 1st post regarding the Registry edit.

Nikos, I exited xplorer², went to "HKCU\Software\ZabaraKatranemia Plc\xplorer2_UC.global" in the Registry, added the String Value "szAltBrowser", which I then Modified to point to my default browser. I exited RegEdit and fired up xplorer², and went to "How Do I". However, the links still loaded in IE. A re-check of the Registry shows the changes I made were still there.

What am I missing? Has anyone else tried this Registry hack?