Use VBA to open URL in Default-Browser an catch existing Session - excel

Question

I try to open a specific URL of a web-application I'm already logged in (or tells me to login if I'm not) in the default browser (Chrome). When I copy/paste this URL into the browser address bar, it perfectly works. It doesn't when I open this URL by VBA with ThisWorkbook.FollowHyperlink - then it redirects - as a kind of fallback - to the homepage instead the specific URL.
I found out that this is a session problem and VBA somehow doesn't recognize/catch the existing session.
As "ugly workaround" I'm currently redirecting over http://www.dereferer.org/ to the specific URL, what perfectly works, but is needing additional time.
This doesn't work:
ThisWorkbook.FollowHyperlink ("https://www.example.com/function/edit/2019-04-09)
This works:
ThisWorkbook.FollowHyperlink ("http://www.dereferer.org/?https://www.example.com/function/edit/2019-04-09)
(for my needs it's not required to encode the target URL)
As this redirect is slow and indirect, I'm searching for a way to directly open the targeted URL while using the existing session (if possible). If this isn't possible (for example because of security), what's the best/fastest way to redirect without setting up an own redirector (which redirects like dereferer.org over a GET parameter)?

Answer 1

A clunky and ill-advised workaround, but you could bypass FollowHyperlink, and instead use Shell to open the website in a new tab/window of your default web-browser:
Shell "explorer ""https://www.example.com/function/edit/2019-04-09"""
(As a note, if you type as a hyperlink in a cell and clicked on it manually, instead of using VBA FollowHyperlink, then the same issue would still occur. This also happens in Word and PowerPoint. Just be thankful you're not trying to catch the FollowHyperlink event and "correct" that in the window)
In response to comments - for Mac you will need to use "open" instead of "explorer". This code should run on both Mac or PC:
Shell IIf(Left(Application.Operatingsystem, 3)="Win","explorer ","open ") & _
"""https://www.example.com/function/edit/2019-04-09"""

Answer 2

If you are allowed to install selenium basic I would use that
Option Explicit
'download selenium https://github.com/florentbr/SeleniumBasic/releases/tag/v2.0.9.0
'Ensure latest applicable driver e.g. ChromeDriver.exe in Selenium folder
'VBE > Tools > References > Add reference to selenium type library
Public Sub DownloadFile()
Dim d As WebDriver
Set d = New ChromeDriver
Const URL = "url"
With d
.Start "Chrome"
.get URL
'login steps
.get 'otherUrl'
Stop '<delete me later
.Quit
End With
End Sub