url-scheme-handler

Project Overview

URL Scheme Handler adds a custom URL scheme to Windows apps so browser pages can launch local programs directly. After adding the registry entry, opening a link like ush://app-name?args in a web page makes Windows decompress the arguments and pass them to the mapped app. It is often paired with an external-player setup, so a video link on a page can be handed to a local player in one click.

Let a web page hand a video link straight to your local player.

Key Features

• Register the scheme: one click writes the required registry entries
• App mapping: map an app name to the local program to invoke, with a custom name
• Compressed arguments: arguments are gzip-compressed and Base64-encoded in the link, then decompressed by the receiver
• Optional checkbox: installing the companion registry entry lets you allow runs on first use and skip later prompts
• Pairs with external players: keep the app name consistent to work with setups like external-player

Target Audience

• Users who want web links opened by a local player
• Users who invoke local programs from scripts or bookmarks
• Developers adding a custom protocol to their own app

Quick Start

1. Download the tool from Releases and run it
2. Click "+ Add to Registry" to add the registry entry
3. Click "+" to add an app, type the app name on the left and pick the program to invoke on the right
4. Keep the app name consistent with your companion setup, including letter case
5. Import the checkbox registry entry so you can allow runs on first use and skip repeated prompts
6. Open a link in the form ush://app-name?args from a web page to launch the mapped program

Core Advantages

• Easy to wire up: add a registry entry and an app mapping and you are set
• Generic protocol: any page or script that can open a link can trigger it
• Safe arguments: arguments are compressed then encoded, so special characters cannot break the link
• Skip the prompts: importing the checkbox registry entry removes the per-run confirmation dialog

System Requirements

Item	Requirement
OS	Windows
Invocation	ush://app-name?compressed-args
Permissions	Registry write access as required

Notes

• The app name must match your companion setup exactly, including capitalization
• Arguments must be gzip-compressed and then Base64-encoded; the receiver decompresses before running
• The system confirmation dialog can be replaced by a one-time checkbox via the companion registry file
• This tool only forwards the call; the behavior of the launched program is up to that program