C# Hyperlink in TextBlock: nothing happens when I click on it

Question

In my C# standalone application, I want to let users click on a link that would launch their favorite browser.

System.Windows.Controls.TextBlock text = new TextBlock();
Run run = new Run("Link Text");

Hyperlink link = new Hyperlink(run);
link.NavigateUri = new Uri("http://w3.org");
text.Inlines.Add(link);

The link is displayed correctly.

When I move the mouse over it, the link becomes red.

PROBLEM: When I click it, nothing happens.

Did I forget something? Do I need to implement some kind of method to really let the link be opened?

Flunk

Answer 1

You need to handle the hyperlink's RequestNavigate event. Here's a quick way of doing it:

link.RequestNavigate += (sender, e) =>
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(e.Uri.ToString());
};

Talishatalisman

Answer 2

Are you handling the 'Hyperlink.RequestNavigate' event? When a user clicks a Hyperlink in a WPF window it doesn't automatically open a browser with the URI specified in its NavigateUri property.

In your code-behind you can do something like:

link.RequestNavigate += LinkOnRequestNavigate;

private void LinkOnRequestNavigate(object sender, RequestNavigateEventArgs e)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(e.Uri.ToString());
}

Silures

WPF Hyperlink is nearly useless. I want it to launch the URL using url set in xaml, otherwise why don't I just use a label and button with my view viewmodel. – Rill

Answer 3

You can make a global hyperlink handler in your App.xaml.cs

protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e) {
    EventManager.RegisterClassHandler(
        typeof(System.Windows.Documents.Hyperlink),
        System.Windows.Documents.Hyperlink.RequestNavigateEvent,
        new System.Windows.Navigation.RequestNavigateEventHandler(
            (sender, en) => Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(
                en.Uri.ToString()
            ) { UseShellExecute = true })
        )
    );
    base.OnStartup(e);
}

This assumes all the NavigateUri properties refer to something you want to launch, but you can always make the handler take care of edge cases.

Reverential

This doesn't work in .NET 6.0 – Fry

Actually it was 5 that broke it, it needs UseShellExecute = true – Reverential

Actually it should be en.Uri.ToString() instead of e.Uri.ToString(). – Fry

Answer 4

For those in .Net Core, the way you do this has changed. Based on this answer and this.

link.RequestNavigate += (sender, e) =>
{
    var url = e.Uri.ToString();
    Process.Start(new ProcessStartInfo(url)
    { 
        UseShellExecute = true 
    });
};

Eparchy

Answer 5

Working with a command is also possible:

<TextBlock>
    See our <Hyperlink NavigateUri="https://www.example.com" Command="{Binding OpenPrivacyPolicyCommand}">Privacy Policy</Hyperlink>
</TextBlock>

The command needs to call open the URL then:

Process.Start(url);

Altocumulus

Answer 6

When using MVVM

In your .xaml

<TextBlock>
  <Run Text="Gold buyers " /><Hyperlink Command="{Binding ViewGoldBuyersGuideCommand}" ><Run Text="guide" /></Hyperlink>
</TextBlock>

And in your vm.cs file

public ICommand ViewGoldBuyersGuideCommand { get; private set; }

ViewGoldBuyersGuideCommand = new DelegateCommand<object>(OnViewGoldBuyersGuide); // inside your constructor

private void OnViewGoldBuyersGuide(object obj)
{
    Process.Start("https://example.com/");
}

Giese

Answer 7

On MVVM:

<TextBlock>         
    <Hyperlink Command="{Binding OpenHyperlinkCommand}" CommandParameter="https://www.google.com/">Google</Hyperlink>
</TextBlock>

ICommand OpenHyperlinkCommand {get;}

OpenHyperlinkCommand = new RelayCommand(url => Process.Start(url as string));

Can