Delphi encodeURL

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

(Please take note that the compiled executable provided has been packed 
with UPX to reduce file size.)

The purpose of this application is to accept a URL containing extended ASCII
characters as a command line parameter and properly convert and encode that
URL and open the result in the system's default browser.

NOTE: During testing I observed that certain browsers will display the URL
in the addressbar differently than what the URL actually is. Although it is
properly converted and encoded, the addressbar will display the original
extended ASCII. I suppose this is to make it look pretty.

The following browsers exhibitted this behavior:

      Firefox 3
      Opera 9
      Chrome 1

Additionally, while both Firefox and Chrome copied the correct URL to the
clipboard from the addressbar, Opera did not.

Opera copied extended ASCII, instead.

Internet Explorer did not exhibit these behaviors and displayed the actual
URL used, in the addressbar.

Rest assured, this application does work, even if your browser isn't displaying
what you think it should be showing in its addressbar.

When passing a URL as a command line parameter, be sure to enclose it in quotes 
if it contains one or more spaces, as this application will fail if you do not.