Problem with file:/// URLs in Safari 2

Question

Problem with file:/// URLs in Safari 2

I am seeing some confusing behaviour with file:/// URLs: a very simple HTML file with that type of link works as expected (opens the nominated folder) when loading it as a local file from my disk, but when I put it on our web server and retrieve it from there, nothing happens when I click on the file:/// link.

This is happening under Safari 2.0 on OS X 10.4.2 (cross-tested on a brand-new iMac), but by comparison does not happen under Safari 1.2.4 under OS X 10.3.8 on an old eMac.

The HTML source as viewed in the browser when loading it each way is identical:

Go here: link

Has anyone else seen -- and hopefully resolved -- this?

Thanks,
Robert

Posted on Aug 17, 2005 7:32 PM

Reply

Answer 1

K. Wong

Level 1

5 points

Sep 1, 2005 8:53 AM in response to Robert Sinton

Bump to the top...

I've been having this problem as well and have not yet found a resolution.

Reply

Answer 2

Scott Dye

Level 2

185 points

Sep 1, 2005 8:58 PM in response to Robert Sinton

Maybe it's a security thing. It seems a little "Windows-like" to be able to open/launch something on your local computer from a remote page...which is part of the reason there are so many exploits available on Windows.

I'd say it should be a preference to be able to do this - default would be off though.

Reply

Answer 3

Yang

Level 6

9,125 points

Sep 1, 2005 9:03 PM in response to Robert Sinton

Maybe this response by TomX will help..

Tom_X, "Safari does not launch Quicktime" #1, 10:38am Sep 1, 2005 CDT

Yang

Reply

Answer 4

Scott Dye

Level 2

185 points

Sep 1, 2005 9:08 PM in response to Robert Sinton

btw your sample link does not work with Safari 1.3 in 10.3.9 either.

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 3, 2005 2:00 PM in response to Robert Sinton

I tried clicking on the link and nothing whatsoever happened. So I tried a control click and selected "Open Link in new window" and a new window opened, followed by the Utilities folder opening. I made a test.html file with the link in it, put it on my startup drive and it worked as expected, and ditto for putting it on a second internal drive. I then put it on my iDisk and navigated to it thru its web site address of

http://homepage.mac.com/francines/testlinks.html

and discovered that the two other "local" operation links (to launch ScriptEditor) both worked, but the open folder link no longer did, except by using control click and choosing either "Open link in new window" or new tab. A new Safari window or tab opens, then the Utilities folder opens.

I then tried the page in Firefox, and it didn't work AT ALL, not even with new window or tab. I then tried Mozilla and Netscape. Same deal. The ancient Internet Explorer opened the Utilities folder inside a new browser window rather than the Finder. This might be a clue as to why the link doesn't work as expected, but unfortunately I don't know what it means.
Francine

Reply