title: Opening Explorer with HyperLink in GridView Using file://
body: <p>I am trying to open Explorer on the client side to view a directory. In my aspx webform, I have a gridview, which has a column of hyperlinks. In the aspx markup, I have the following:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;asp:HyperLink Text="ICPnt" id="MyDir" runat="server" Target="_blank" NavigateUrl='&lt;%# "file://" + Eval("MyDir").ToString() %&gt;' &gt;&lt;/asp:HyperLink&gt;  
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When the startup the asp.net application in debug mode with Visual Studio and move the cursor over the hyperlink, I see the popup path,</p>
  
  <pre><code>file://MachineName/C$/WINNT/MyDir
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This looks correct. When I click on the hyperlink, NOTHING happens. I don't even see the cursor turning to an hourglass icon or anything. I think I am pretty close but can't see the missing step or error.</p>
  
  <p>Another test:</p>
  
  <p>I typed <code>file://MachineName/C$/WINNT/MyDir</code> in both Windows and Internet Explorer and got a new Explorer to pop up and display the directory content from my VM environment. As a test, I copied and pasted the same exact file:// path to my aspx markup and tested again. When I click on it, nothing happens.</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;asp:HyperLink Text="ICPnt" id="WSM2MDir" runat="server" Target="_blank" NavigateUrl='&lt;%# "file://MachineName/C$/WINNT/MyDir" %&gt;' &gt;&lt;/asp:HyperLink&gt; 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Any help is appreciated. THanks</p>