---
title: "system.vision.openURL"
description: "Opens the given URL or URI scheme outside of the currently running Client in whatever application the host operating system deems appropriate."
---

# system.vision.openURL

> Opens the given URL or URI scheme outside of the currently running Client in whatever application the host operating system deems appropriate.

:::info Backwards Compatibility
This function replaces [system.net.openURL](versioned_docs/version-8.1/appendix/scripting-functions/system-net/system-net-openURL.md). Any scripts containing Vision Client scoped functions that were replaced with system.vision syntax will still work to maintain backwards compatibility.
:::

This function is used in **Python Scripting**.

## Description
Opens the given URL or URI scheme outside of the currently running Client in the application the host operating system deems appropriate. For example, the URL `"http://www.google.com"` will open in the default web browser, whereas `"file://C:\\Report.pdf"` will open in Adobe Acrobat. The Windows network-share style path like `"\\\\Fileserver\\resources\\machine_manual.pdf"` will work in Windows as well.

 
:::caution
Be careful not to use this function in a full-screen client, as launching an external program will break your full-screen exclusive mode.
:::

## Client Permission Restrictions
This scripting function has no [Client Permission](../../../ignition-modules/vision/vision-project-properties/vision-project-properties.md#vision-permissions-properties) restrictions.

## Syntax
`system.vision.openURL(url)`

### Parameters
Type | Parameter | Description 
------- | ------- | ------
String| `url` | The URL to open in a web browser or other appropriate application.

### Returns

Nothing

### Scope

Vision Client

## Code Examples
```python title="Example #1"
# This code will open a web page

system.vision.openURL("http://www.google.com")
```
```python title="Example #2"
# This code will open a PDF document located at C: on the client computer
# Note the double backslashes are needed because backslash is the escape character
# for Python

system.vision.openURL("file://C:\\myPDF.pdf")
```
```python title="Example #3"
# This code would open a PDF document from a Windows-based file server
# Note the double backslashes are needed because backslash is the escape character
# for Python

system.vision.openURL("\\\\MyServer\\MyDocs\\document.pdf")
```