As you probably know, Visual Studio LightSwitch is a tool provided by Microsoft to build business applications. In this article you will see how to add an URL to the navigation menu of a LightSwitch application.

An URL is a Uniform Resource Locator, it is also known as a web address. When we want to open a website then we write a web address in the address bar in the internet browser. If you want to add any URL in your LightSwitch navigation menu then you can do that.

Step 1 : First of all open Visual Studio LightSwitch->Click on new project->Select LightSwitch->Select LightSwitch application->Write name (AddUrl)->Ok.



Step 2 : Right-click on screens->Add screen.



Step 3 : Select new data screen->Write screen name (UrlInNavigation)->Select screen data (None)->Ok.



Step 4 : Go to Solution Explorer->Click on file view.



Step 5 : Right-click on client->Add references.



Step 6 : Select System.Windows.Browser->Ok.



Step 7 : Expand write code->Select UrlInNavigation_Run->Write code.



Code

using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.IO;
using System.IO.IsolatedStorage;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch.Framework.Client;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch.Presentation;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch.Presentation.Extensions;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices.Automation;
using System.Windows.Browser;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch.Client;
using Microsoft.LightSwitch.Threading;
namespace LightSwitchApplication
{
   public partial class Application
   {
     partial void UrlInNavigation_Run(ref bool handled)
     {
        // Set handled to 'true' to stop further processing.
        var uri = new Uri("http://www.windows2008hosting.asphostportal.com/", UriKind.RelativeOrAbsolute);
        Dispatchers.Main.BeginInvoke(() =>
        {
             if (AutomationFactory.IsAvailable)
             {
                 var shell = AutomationFactory.CreateObject("Shell.Application");
                 shell.ShellExecute(uri.ToString());
             }
             else
             {
                 throw new InvalidOperationException();
             }
        });
     }
   }
}

Step 8 : Go to Solution Explorer->Click on logical view.

Step 9 : Right click on screens->Select edit screen navigation

Step 10 : Select UrlInNavigation->Clear->Set.

Step 11 : Run the application (Press F5).