Question

I want to run an *.exe file through a C program

Asked by: vanitg

I want to run an *.exe file through a C program. can u help me to know how can i do it.

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Asked On
2003-10-03 at 07:35:06ID20756252
Topic

C Programming Language

Participating Experts
6
Points
125
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: pscsukPosted on 2003-10-03 at 07:41:12ID: 9485058

system("myprogram.exe");

 

by: akshayxxPosted on 2003-10-03 at 10:38:32ID: 9486494

a note on use of system() function
it will suspend the execution of the thread, in which u make a call to system, until the command being executed is completed.

for example, if you call
system(notepad.exe);
printf("notepad launched");
the printf wont be executed until u close the notepad just opened by ur program

so for that case, if u are on linux u can use fork to create seprate process. and in windows u can use CreateProcess
look for the manual pages and documentation for details on their usage
and if u r stuck, u r alwayswelcome here.
akshay

 

by: corduroy9Posted on 2003-10-03 at 11:26:06ID: 9486812


you can also use a spawn() function, and i think you could use ShellExecute, but I'm not too sure on that

i can provide a spawn example if need be


 

by: Timbo87Posted on 2003-10-03 at 15:11:37ID: 9488359

You could also use execl()

execl("C:\\WINNT\\NOTEPAD.EXE", "NOTEPAD","args");

It is generally favored over system() because it doesn't run as a DOS shell.

On Win32 you'll have to include process.h
Non-Win32 uses unistd.h

 

by: Timbo87Posted on 2003-10-03 at 17:10:46ID: 9488839

One more thing, if you don't plan on running any parameters with the EXE, run it like this.

execl("C:\\WINNT\\NOTEPAD.EXE", "NOTEPAD",NULL);

 

by: asssaPosted on 2003-10-07 at 00:35:41ID: 9503837

If you care about compatibility with 16-bit Windows you can use WinExec( LPCSTR lpCmdLine, UINT uCmdShow);
For example: WinExec("notepad.exe", SW_SHOW);


 

by: kjmathewPosted on 2003-10-09 at 05:26:53ID: 9520051

Use the API:
BOOL CreateProcess(
  LPCTSTR lpApplicationName,                 // name of executable module
  LPTSTR lpCommandLine,                      // command line string
  LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpProcessAttributes, // SD
  LPSECURITY_ATTRIBUTES lpThreadAttributes,  // SD
  BOOL bInheritHandles,                      // handle inheritance option
  DWORD dwCreationFlags,                     // creation flags
  LPVOID lpEnvironment,                      // new environment block
  LPCTSTR lpCurrentDirectory,                // current directory name
  LPSTARTUPINFO lpStartupInfo,               // startup information
  LPPROCESS_INFORMATION lpProcessInformation // process information
);
declared in Winbase.h, also, include Windows.h.

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