eclipse rcp - How to launch the default (native) application for a given file from Java?

Question

I am displaying a list of files; i.e. xls, doc, pdf, odt etc., in my Java application (Eclipse RCP). When the user clicks on the file, I want to launch the appropriate (according to what the OS thinks) native application, just like it happens in Windows Explorer or the Finder.

And while I am here: It would be nice to also display the same icons that Finder or Explorer use for the different file types.

Is there a library or Eclipse plugin for this?

Answer 1

What you want is java.awt.Desktop:

Desktop.getDesktop().open( file );