Launch a host OS app from Guest OS

Hi, does anyone know how to launch an application in the host OS from the guest OS?

For example, I would like to use my Safari browser by default instead of WinXP IE. So, when I click on a link in an email it would launch Safari and goto the page link instead of launching WinXP IE and going to the page there.

Thanks

robert

 

The whole point of a virtual machine is that it's isolated from the host and the VM can't damage the host. What you are asking for punches a huge hole in security, and if they ever do implement it, I sure hope it's an option I can turn off.

 

I agree, I'd certainly like to turn it off, too---but only after I experiment with it It sounds, actually, like a very interesting idea. And if done right it might be no less secure than the clipboard synchronization feature. For me, however, the biggest reason I wouldn't use it is that there are times that I need to follow links or browse the web within the guest itself---for example, when it's time to upgrade my firewall software.

 

Right, thanks for both your comments. I understand some may have a problem with the security aspects, personally I don't have a problem with it.

Maybe we could expect to have a kind of "right-click" option that will open a link using a browser in the host os or some such implementation.

Moderator... will you pick this up as a feature request or do I need to do something else?

Robert

 

Feasible, but the solution is not elegant.
Using smb sharing, I set up a folder on the mac that is accessible from windows.
Attached a folder action script to it that would open a file placed in it. If it is a link, it opens in safari
Place a link (ie alias) to that folder in the windows start bar (whatever they call it)
Drag links onto the folder icon and voila, they open in Safari.

I can post the script if you wish

 

Hi mmak,

Very creative of you! If you could share the script/more details that would be great.
Thanks
Robert

 

Make sure you create a shared folder and attach the script to it in folder actions. Here is the script. Just copy and paste in script editor. Save as a script (name it OpenURL for example) in /Library/scripts/Folder Action Scripts. You will have to manually clean up the folder. Use at your own risk.

--Begin script
on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving these_items
tell application "Finder"
try
repeat with i from 1 to number of items in these_items
set this_item to item i of these_items
open this_item
end repeat
end try
end tell
end adding folder items to