Extension:LaunchExternal

Allows wiki author to choose to open existing media, images or a "://" type link into a new external window. An http reference must be in the correct fully named web format (http://www.google.com) or you'll get a 'bad reference' error. You'll get the same error if a local media file match isn't found as well.

This extension should be able to open any type of documents that can normally be opened with the installed web browser. I've personally tested Powerpoint, Word and Excel for Office 2003. It also works well with Adobe PDF files.

Note: With Powerpoint, I've noticed in my testing, that the Powerpoint process is still running even after you close the browser window... not sure if this is a standard issue with running Powerpoint in a browser window or if its my WinXP configuration.

Syntax Examples
Holiday_calendar.doc Holiday_calendar.doc ::Paid Holidays http://www.google.com

file://\\sharedserver\Holiday_calendar.doc file://sharedserver/Holiday_calendar.doc file:\\sharedserver\Holiday_calendar.doc

www.cnn.com <-- bad reference/missing "http://"

Installation
'''To automatically attach a servername description to the link... '''

$wgAddServerName_EXT = true; file:\\sharedserver\Holiday_calendar.doc Holiday_calendar.doc (sharedserver)

Recommended Script for "outside links only..."
This script, if added into either the 'Mediawiki:Common.js' or 'User:Common.js' forces all external links to open in a new window. The extension above opens uploaded media/images into a new window (this script doesn't). For http type links, you can either use this script or the above extension.

My Other Extensions
''' Later MediaWiki release compatibility issues mitigation. '''

Scott Guthrie 10/25/2016 rscottguthrie@gmail.com

UPDATE to source code for more current MediaWiki releases.

Here are 2 changes identified for 'launchExtension.php'.