Question

Running command line programs in the background

Asked by: gunghoassassin

Hello, I know that if you want to run a program in the background from a unix command line, you simply add & to the end of the command, but is there an equivalent in windows in order to run something in the background?

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Asked On
2005-02-20 at 08:52:39ID21321897
Tags

background

,

command

,

run

,

line

,

program

Topic

Windows 2003 Server

Participating Experts
5
Points
500
Comments
8

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Answers

 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2005-02-20 at 09:26:17ID: 13357932

Use the AT Command:

C:\at /?
The AT command schedules commands and programs to run on a computer at
a specified time and date. The Schedule service must be running to use
the AT command.

AT [\\computername] [ [id] [/DELETE] | /DELETE [/YES]]
AT [\\computername] time [/INTERACTIVE]
    [ /EVERY:date[,...] | /NEXT:date[,...]] "command"

\\computername     Specifies a remote computer. Commands are scheduled on the
                   local computer if this parameter is omitted.
id                 Is an identification number assigned to a scheduled
                   command.
/delete            Cancels a scheduled command. If id is omitted, all the
                   scheduled commands on the computer are canceled.
/yes               Used with cancel all jobs command when no further
                   confirmation is desired.
time               Specifies the time when command is to run.
/interactive       Allows the job to interact with the desktop of the user
                   who is logged on at the time the job runs.
/every:date[,...]  Runs the command on each specified day(s) of the week or
                   month. If date is omitted, the current day of the month
                   is assumed.
/next:date[,...]   Runs the specified command on the next occurrence of the
                   day (for example, next Thursday).  If date is omitted, the
                   current day of the month is assumed.
"command"          Is the Windows NT command, or batch program to be run.

 

by: SembeePosted on 2005-02-20 at 10:02:00ID: 13358068

You could do it with Windows Scripting Host:
Put the command in to a batch file and then start it like this:

CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run "C:\Scripts\script.bat",0

Simon.

 

by: leewPosted on 2005-02-20 at 12:01:21ID: 13358478

At is an interesting idea and one I never thought of for this purpose - worth looking into.  Not sure about the VBScript though.  

You can also use START - while you will still get a window (another window) where the command is executed, this will allow an existing batch file, for example, to keep running.  For example:

@echo off
C:
cd\temp
notepad something.txt
sleep 2
del something.txt

The above batch file would "hang" at the notepad line until the user closed notepad.  If you said "START notepad something.txt" then notepad would open, then "sleep" (pause) for 2 seocnds (assuming you have that utility on your PC) and then delete the file.  I use a script like this for creating an opening dos help files.  For example:

----- man.cmd ------
@echo off
%1 /? > %temp%\%1.hlp
start notepad %1.hlp
sleep 2
del %temp%\%1.hlp
-----------------------

The above script executes whatever command I want with the /? switch.  So If I need the instructions on how to use "for" then I type MAN FOR, I get a notepad window (easier than a DOS prompt) with the help info and within 2 seconds, my existing batch file closes and deletes the text file I had to create to put that help info into notepad.  Follow?  May not even be what you're looking for, but then, just FYI.

 

by: lazarus98Posted on 2005-02-20 at 12:14:16ID: 13358524

Wouldnt it be nice if MS had thought about making command line apps run in the background easily with a $...
Such a simple idea... Makes you wonder why they don't just make the product better rather than keep adding stuff.

 

by: cjferrisPosted on 2006-01-16 at 07:28:29ID: 15711308

I tried  CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run "C:\Scripts\script.bat",0    and this is what I got.


C:\>CreateObject("Wscript.Shell").Run "C:\Scripts\script.bat",0
'CreateObject' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.


 

by: SembeePosted on 2006-01-16 at 08:57:36ID: 15712226

It will not work on the command line.
You have to run it in something... I usually use vbs.

Thus... put the command in to a new text file, then save it as script.vbs

Run the vbs file.

Simon.

 

by: MiguelSilvestrePosted on 2006-03-27 at 18:47:20ID: 16307222

No comment has been added to this question in more than 21 days, so it is now classified as abandoned.
I will leave the following recommendation for this question in the Cleanup topic area:

Split between lazarus98 and Sembee and leew

Any objections should be posted here in the next 4 days. After that time, the question will be closed.

Miguel
EE Cleanup Volunteer

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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