Open a file in its default program (Windows)

OpenFileInDefaultApp.cpp

// Opening a File (e.g. Video) in its default program
// --------------------------------------------------
/*
This method, using the 'ShellExecute' command, only works in Windows
(tested in Windows 7).

The code snippet was taken from an App created using Cinder,
a C++ Framework for Creative Coding: http://libcinder.org/

However, 'ShellExecute' should work in standard Windows Desktop Apps. 
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb762153%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
*/


#include "cinder/app/AppNative.h"
#include "cinder/gl/gl.h"
#include <stdio.h>

//IMPORTANT! ShellExecute requires this header
#include <shellapi.h> 

using namespace ci;
using namespace ci::app; 
using namespace std;

class CinderApp : public AppNative 
{
	public:
		//-- standard Cinder Functions --
		void setup();
		void update();
		void draw();
		void mouseDown( MouseEvent event );	

	private:
		void playVideo(string videoFileName); 
};


void CinderApp::setup()		{ /* Setup Cinder App */ }
void CinderApp::update()	{ /* Update state of App */ }
void CinderApp::draw()		{ /* Draw graphics */ }


//Cinder triggers this function when a mouse button is pressed
void CinderApp::mouseDown( MouseEvent event ) 
{ 
	string filepath = "videos\\testVideo.wmv";

	try
	{
		fs::path videoPath = getAssetPath( filepath );
		wstring videoFilePath = videoPath.wstring();
		LPCWSTR videoFilePathChars = (LPCWSTR)videoFilePath.c_str();

		// THE IMPORTANT BIT!
		//--------------------------------------------------------------------
		//The 'ShellExecute' function will open the video file externally,
		//in whichever application has been set as the default for WMV files.
		ShellExecute(0, 0, videoFilePathChars, 0, 0 , SW_SHOW );
		//--------------------------------------------------------------------
	}
	catch(...)
	{
		cout << "ERROR! could not play video!!!" << endl;
	}
}