javascript - How to Detect If Client-Side App Installed before Calling Custom Protocol URL? -

i'm working on enterprise web application. web app developed in asp.net. clients windows clients.

we have need support custom "silent" printing functionality in reports generated on server sent directly user's local default printer. tentative approach develop client-side app when installed registers custom protocol in windows registry. web app can call url printingapp://some/url/with/info start instance of client-side app if it's not running. thought url called automatically web app after user logs in.

in doing prototyping work, 1 of questions came how detect if client-side app installed? 1 thought try call custom url , handle errors thrown (assuming there error can point client-side app not being installed). when testing approach, found ie triggers modal error dialog display text "application not found", followed modal error dialog text "unable open helper application 'printingapp://some/url/with/info'. protocol specified in address not valid." doesn't appear these errors can caught or suppressed javascript code.

any suggestions on how detect if client-side app installed before calling custom protocol url? although current focus on ie, need support other browsers edge , chrome.