Nw.js: Unable to open a file as argument with an NWjs app on Windows

Created on 28 Aug 2016 · 11Comments · Source: nwjs/nw.js

Affected OS and NW.js version

Windows 7, 8
Any NW.js version since v0.10.3 (september 2014)

Issue

Unable to make an NW.js application that open files on Windows (or to pass a filepath as first argument).

The official specification (Handling files and arguments) is outdated or does not work as described in Windows. No newer specification discuss this functionality.
This issue has already been reported many times #2416 #4951 #2525
Since then no fix has been given, despite it's an essential function for any desktop application.

How to reproduce

Create two files named "package.json" and "app.html" inside a folder named "app.nw" :

package.json

{
  "name": "Test",
  "main": "app.html",
  "version": "0.1.0",
  "description": "Test App"
}

app.html

<html>
<body>
<script>
    /* As described on https://github.com/nwjs/nw.js/wiki/Handling-files-and-arguments */
    var gui = require('nw.gui');
    document.write(gui.App.argv);
    gui.App.on('open', function(cmdline) {
      document.write('command line: ' + cmdline);
    });
</script>
</body>
</html>

Then package your app using for instance nwjs-builder : nwb nwbuild app.nw

Finally, right-click any file on your computer, then click "Open with..." and select the previously build Test.exe
Result : nothing happens (app crash on loading).

You can also try the command line : .\Test.exe credits.html
The app will crash on loading if the file "credits.html" exists, but works well otherwise.

P2 bug test-todo triaged

Source

motla

Most helpful comment

This is fixed in git and will be available in the next nightly build.

rogerwang on 12 Apr 2017

👍3

All 11 comments

I have the same issue

SuperGod on 21 Oct 2016

I encountered this as well

mattboch on 17 Nov 2016

@rogerwang This issue still occurs in v0.21.3. Other similar issues have been marked as fixed (e.g., https://github.com/nwjs/nw.js/issues/4681) - what's the status?

This is an important feature for my application and many others, as you can see from the number of tickets raised.

octachrome on 17 Mar 2017

I can confirm.

MaxEden on 30 Mar 2017

Same Problem here!

nanotronic on 11 Apr 2017

I can reproduce this issue with the reporter's codes in the bugs. My Steps:

Windows 8(nwjs-sdk-v0.21.5):

Create a zip file named package.nw, including app.html and package.json.
copy /b nw.exe+package.nw app.exe
app.exe 1.html -->1.html is a nonexistent file
app.exe app.html -->valid file

_Results:_
Step 3: works well, opens a window and displays 1.html
Step 4: nothing happens, no window opens

Linux(nwjs-sdk-v0.21.5):

Create a zip file named package.nw, including app.html and package.json.
cat nw package.nw > app && chmod +x app
./app 1.html -->1.html is a nonexistent file
./app app.html -->valid file

_Results:_
Step 3: works well, opens a window and displays 1.html
Step 4: throws errors in the console, fails to open a window

(function (exports, require, module, __filename, __dirname) { <!DOCTYPE html>
                                                              ^
SyntaxError: Unexpected token <
    at createScript (vm.js:53:10)
    at Object.runInThisContext (vm.js:95:10)
    at Module._compile (module.js:567:28)
    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:610:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:512:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (module.js:471:12)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:463:3)
    at Module.runMain (module.js:647:10)
    at run (bootstrap_node.js:431:7)
    at startup (bootstrap_node.js:164:9)