[C# .Net] Opening default e-mail client?

[Guest Dan C]

How do I open the default e-mail client from a form in C# ? I just want it to load the client, not create a new message window.

[Andareed]

This reg key contains everything you need to know:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail

Their is an easier way using MAPI directly, but I don't know how to do this from C#.

[lexecutil]

Not trying to take over your thread of anything.. but do you know how to open the default Internet browser aswell?

Dan

[jonovate]

I just figured it out while googling for VB (since everything is usually done in VB);

Anyways (for email):

1. Add a Reference to the COM object (COM tab) "Microsoft MAPI Controls 6.0".

2. I tested it with just adding a button to a form. Two ways to do it.

using MSMAPI;
           
.........

  private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
  {
 	 MAPISessionClass ms = new MAPISessionClass();
 	 ms.SignOn();
  }

or (if u don't like using a lot of namespaces):

 private void button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
  {
 	 MSMAPI.MAPISessionClass ms = new MSMAPI.MAPISessionClass();
 	 ms.SignOn();
  }

[jonovate]

  dannyres said:

Not trying to take over your thread of anything.. but do you know how to open the default Internet browser aswell?

Dan

The following works, i just thought of a new idea, will edit in a bit.

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("address");

//edit//

Just figured out how to run it if u want it just to open default web browser, like clicking on the icon (pretend a button2 on your form is the icon, etc):

.........
using Microsoft.Win32;
using System.Diagnostics;
.........
...
.........

private void button2_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
 	 string sDefaultWeb =  Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("http").OpenSubKey("shell").OpenSubKey("open").OpenSubKey("command").GetValue("").ToString();
 	 int iLoc = sDefaultWeb.IndexOf("-url");
 	 sDefaultWeb = (sDefaultWeb.Remove(iLoc, sDefaultWeb.Length - iLoc)).Trim();
 	 Process.Start(sDefaultWeb);
}

Edited July 29, 2004 by JJ6829

[jonovate]

It's not letting me edit my above reply for some reason ( i only see Report and Quote where the edit button should be).

So here's an updated version. Tested with IE, Firefox, and Mozilla (above version was customized for Mozilla/firefox):

.....
using Microsoft.Win32;
using System.Diagnostics;
...
....

  private void button2_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
  {
 	 //reads the default web application from registry, and removes any command line parameters
 	 string sDefaultWeb = Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("http").OpenSubKey("shell").OpenSubKey("open").OpenSubKey("command").GetValue("").ToString().ToLower();
 	 int iLoc = sDefaultWeb.IndexOf(".exe") + 4;
 	 sDefaultWeb = (sDefaultWeb.Remove(iLoc, sDefaultWeb.Length - iLoc));

 	 //Fixes the IE default browser glitch
 	 if( sDefaultWeb[0] == 34 )
    sDefaultWeb = sDefaultWeb.Remove(0, 1);

 	 //start process
 	 Process.Start(sDefaultWeb);
  }

//edit: i guess u could do Andareed's way too with the above code for both ways (MAPI is easier like he said for mail). U just gotta understand the Registry class otherwise

Edited July 29, 2004 by JJ6829

[Guest Dan C]

Thanks alot Andareed and JJ6829. I will try them out :)

Thanks alot again guys!

[alpha_omega]

You can do it all in one line:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("mailto:".ToString() + "asd@asd.com");

[jonovate]

  alpha_omega said:

You can do it all in one line:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("mailto:".ToString() + "asd@asd.com");

Yes but if you knew how to read a thread fully, you would see he wanted to launch the program, not open a new message window.