Forum Discussion

_anomDiebolt_'s avatar
_anomDiebolt_
Qrew Elite
7 years ago

Microsoft URI Scheme

If any of you are in a Windows environment and have Microsoft Office installed, do me a favor and try and open Excel directly from a specially constructed URI:

In the application at the bottom of this post the [Open in Excel] Rich Text formula field synthesizes this <a> element which when clicked should open the Formula Function Reference CSV Report directly in Excel:
<a href="ms-excel:ofv|u|https://login.quickbase.com/db/6ewwzuuj?a=q&qid=6&opts=csv">Open FFR in Excel</a>
This is the formula being used:

"<a href='ms-excel:ofv|u|" & [URL] & "'>Open FFR in Excel</a>"

Here is the application:

Office URI Scheme
https://haversineconsulting.quickbase.com/db/bnghwijq4?a=td

I can't test this myself at the moment as I do not have Microsoft Office installed on my boxen.

Please tell me what happens and what your configuration is (OS, and Browser).

Thanks!
  • GauravSharma3's avatar
    GauravSharma3
    Qrew Commander
    7 years ago
    Hi Dan,

    I tested it on my system and got the below error.



    Browser: Chrome
    OS: Windows 7 64 Bit

    Please let me know if you need any further information.

    Thanks,

    Gaurav
    • _anomDiebolt_'s avatar
      _anomDiebolt_
      Qrew Elite
      7 years ago
      Thanks - I would like more feedback from others. When I get to a boxen with Office I will debug. The URL might need to be encoded or there could be some other issue.

      It should eventually work but as I said it will depending entirely on the users config

      As enticement for others to provide their feedback I will mention that I have been successful launching other applications directly from QuickBase and passing an arbitrary string of data representing a URL or other identifier. The upside potential for a streamlined workflow is very attractive but there are other issues that need to be explored (including security issues).
    • _anomDiebolt_'s avatar
      _anomDiebolt_
      Qrew Elite
      7 years ago
      I don't have Office but I do have Win10 box with Cortana. This link in QuickBse opens Cortana from Chrome
      <a href="ms-cortana:foo">Open Cortana</a>
      Test yourself:

      https://haversineconsulting.quickbase.com/db/bnghwijpj?a=dbpage&pagename=MicrosoftURlSchemes.htm...


      Clicking the link in Chrome will prompt you if you want to open these types of links in the associated application. Once approved similar links (to ms-cortana protocol) will open without the dialog.



      This is safe to try and you have to have Cortana working of course.
    • _anomDiebolt_'s avatar
      _anomDiebolt_
      Qrew Elite
      7 years ago
      If you are willing to explore you can enter these commands into the Windows Command prompt and it will report if the URI Schems are know to the registry

      reg query HKCR\ms-cortana
      reg query HKCR\ms-excel

      This should explain if you can access either of the Microsoft URI Schemes I mentioned from your box.



      As indicated above on my current machine I have Cortana installed by not Microsoft Word.

      This is safe to do. But don't open up your registry or issue anything other than these query commands.