Can I embed a clickable link that includes command line arguments?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Clif McIrvin
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Clif McIrvin

I 'm familiar with the process of embedding a clickable link to a file
located on a share accessible to the recipient, and do so regularly by
using a UNC formatted path:

\\ServerName\Path\to the \location\of the\file

(Interesting ... the "<" ">" I wrapped the above line in dissappeared as
soon as I entered the close bracket. In Outlook [plain text] I'm not
used to that happening.)

My question: is it possible to do the same thing to launch a .exe (or
..cmd) with command line arguments?

Something like:

\\UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3 etc

that line with extra quotes and spaces:

"<" \ \ UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3
etc ">"

I'm using WinXP Pro SP3 with Office (Outlook) 2003 SP3 and IE8 Update
Version 0, however, I'd like confidence that the embedded link will work
regardless of the Windows / Office version being used.


[I am presently living with the Security Risk warnings that Outlook
loves to throw and just asking my users to go ahead and run the link.]
 
No, a hyperlink can contain only the file name, not additional arguments or
parameters.
 
I was afraid that might be the answer.

Thank you for responding!

--
Clif

Sue Mosher said:
No, a hyperlink can contain only the file name, not additional
arguments or parameters.

--
Sue Mosher, Outlook MVP
Author of Microsoft Outlook 2007 Programming:
Jumpstart for Power Users and Administrators
http://www.outlookcode.com/article.aspx?id=54


Clif McIrvin said:
I 'm familiar with the process of embedding a clickable link to a file
located on a share accessible to the recipient, and do so regularly by
using a UNC formatted path:

\\ServerName\Path\to the \location\of the\file

(Interesting ... the "<" ">" I wrapped the above line in dissappeared
as soon as I entered the close bracket. In Outlook [plain text] I'm
not used to that happening.)

My question: is it possible to do the same thing to launch a .exe (or
.cmd) with command line arguments?

Something like:

\\UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3
etc

that line with extra quotes and spaces:

"<" \ \ UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string
/arg3 etc ">"

I'm using WinXP Pro SP3 with Office (Outlook) 2003 SP3 and IE8 Update
Version 0, however, I'd like confidence that the embedded link will
work regardless of the Windows / Office version being used.


[I am presently living with the Security Risk warnings that Outlook
loves to throw and just asking my users to go ahead and run the
link.]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
If I wrap the string in <> with spaces, the hyper link ends at the first
space.

If I replace spaces with %20 and wrap with <> I get a hyperlink that
includes the entire string; but I get a "Cannot find file" error [repeat
exact text of hyperlink]. Make sure the path of internet address is
correct.

I suspect that Sue's reply answers my question with clear finality.

--
Clif

Diane Poremsky said:
what happens when you try? Does it work if you replace the spaces with
%20?

--
--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Outlook do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072


Clif McIrvin said:
I 'm familiar with the process of embedding a clickable link to a
file located on a share accessible to the recipient, and do so
regularly by using a UNC formatted path:

\\ServerName\Path\to the \location\of the\file

(Interesting ... the "<" ">" I wrapped the above line in dissappeared
as soon as I entered the close bracket. In Outlook [plain text] I'm
not used to that happening.)

My question: is it possible to do the same thing to launch a .exe (or
.cmd) with command line arguments?

Something like:

\\UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3
etc

that line with extra quotes and spaces:

"<" \ \ UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string
/arg3 etc ">"

I'm using WinXP Pro SP3 with Office (Outlook) 2003 SP3 and IE8 Update
Version 0, however, I'd like confidence that the embedded link will
work regardless of the Windows / Office version being used.


[I am presently living with the Security Risk warnings that Outlook
loves to throw and just asking my users to go ahead and run the
link.]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Most likely it won't work, but I never tried it myself. I think if it did
work, you'd get security dialogs to respond to.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Outlook do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072


Clif McIrvin said:
If I wrap the string in <> with spaces, the hyper link ends at the first
space.

If I replace spaces with %20 and wrap with <> I get a hyperlink that
includes the entire string; but I get a "Cannot find file" error [repeat
exact text of hyperlink]. Make sure the path of internet address is
correct.

I suspect that Sue's reply answers my question with clear finality.

--
Clif

Diane Poremsky said:
what happens when you try? Does it work if you replace the spaces with
%20?

--
--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Outlook do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072


Clif McIrvin said:
I 'm familiar with the process of embedding a clickable link to a file
located on a share accessible to the recipient, and do so regularly by
using a UNC formatted path:

\\ServerName\Path\to the \location\of the\file

(Interesting ... the "<" ">" I wrapped the above line in dissappeared as
soon as I entered the close bracket. In Outlook [plain text] I'm not
used to that happening.)

My question: is it possible to do the same thing to launch a .exe (or
.cmd) with command line arguments?

Something like:

\\UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3 etc

that line with extra quotes and spaces:

"<" \ \ UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3
etc ">"

I'm using WinXP Pro SP3 with Office (Outlook) 2003 SP3 and IE8 Update
Version 0, however, I'd like confidence that the embedded link will work
regardless of the Windows / Office version being used.


[I am presently living with the Security Risk warnings that Outlook
loves to throw and just asking my users to go ahead and run the link.]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
True. I have attempted to educate my users to live with those security
dialogs, rather than learn how to prevent them ... perhaps that's the
coward's way out, perhaps not.

At any rate, thanks for responding!

--
Clif

Diane Poremsky said:
Most likely it won't work, but I never tried it myself. I think if it
did work, you'd get security dialogs to respond to.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Outlook do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072


Clif McIrvin said:
If I wrap the string in <> with spaces, the hyper link ends at the
first space.

If I replace spaces with %20 and wrap with <> I get a hyperlink that
includes the entire string; but I get a "Cannot find file" error
[repeat exact text of hyperlink]. Make sure the path of internet
address is correct.

I suspect that Sue's reply answers my question with clear finality.

--
Clif

Diane Poremsky said:
what happens when you try? Does it work if you replace the spaces
with %20?

--
--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

Outlook & Exchange Solutions Center: http://www.slipstick.com/

Outlook Tips by email:
mailto:[email protected]

EMO - a weekly newsletter about Outlook and Exchange:
mailto:[email protected]

Poll: What version of Outlook do you use?
http://forums.slipstick.com/showthread.php?t=27072


I 'm familiar with the process of embedding a clickable link to a
file located on a share accessible to the recipient, and do so
regularly by using a UNC formatted path:

\\ServerName\Path\to the \location\of the\file

(Interesting ... the "<" ">" I wrapped the above line in
dissappeared as soon as I entered the close bracket. In Outlook
[plain text] I'm not used to that happening.)

My question: is it possible to do the same thing to launch a .exe
(or .cmd) with command line arguments?

Something like:

\\UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string /arg3
etc

that line with extra quotes and spaces:

"<" \ \ UNC Path\Executable /argument1 /argument2=some text string
/arg3 etc ">"

I'm using WinXP Pro SP3 with Office (Outlook) 2003 SP3 and IE8
Update Version 0, however, I'd like confidence that the embedded
link will work regardless of the Windows / Office version being
used.


[I am presently living with the Security Risk warnings that Outlook
loves to throw and just asking my users to go ahead and run the
link.]
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
No, but you can create a simple bat file which holds the command with the
parameters and then link to the bat-file from within the email.
 
Roady said:
No, but you can create a simple bat file which holds the command with
the parameters and then link to the bat-file from within the email.
Click to expand...

Thank you
 
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