Opening dial-up/vpn connection via batch file?

Here's how we did it
create a shortcut on the desktop, and then called the short cut from the batch file
the shortcut will have a .lnk extension
so the  batch file read
start myconnection.lnk

Sorry but that didn't work, if I create a shortcut from a dial-up connection, it states it must be placed on the desktop but I see no file extension under Windows XP, I see all the other file extensions but nothing for this, can you think anything else?

DB

I know that connection files have the .rdp extension, I am not sure for VPN, though.

.rdp files are Remote Desktop protocol (RDP) file extensions aren't they?

DB

I am sorry, you are right.
As a second thought, you might want to create an AutoIt3 script, which will be able to create a .exe file, with which you could select the program to open automatically.

How do I do this?

DB

Man that worked great in 98 :-(

Before trying with AutoIt, are  you sure you tried  stevenlewis' suggestion?
Because, on Windows 2000, you cannot see any apparent extension, but the link created on the desktop is actually a .lnk file: try using 'DIR' command in a DOS shell.

I've been messing with it on my xp pro box, and it won't run :-(

No I can't get it to either, just seems to sit there at the DOS window!  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

DB

I can drag the shortcut to a cmd box, and it runs ??

This is the scripting program I was talking about before:
http://www.hiddensoft.com/autoit3/
With it you can create a script which effectively simulates the CLICKS in a Windows system, as if you were doing it yourself.
I can help you with it, but I need some more details, if you think this is a viable solution.

THIS IS MY BATCH FILE
"C:\Documents and Settings\Me\Desktop\test.lnk"
WHERE THE NAME OF THE SHORTCUT IS TEST.LNK
ooops, sorry bout the caps
Now if I double click on it, it opens and closes the cmd box, but it I drag it to a cmd box, it runs

This might be the core of the Auto it file:
Run ("C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Desktop\MyLink.lnk")
WinWaitActive("Name of the connection appearing in title bar of the connection window")
Sleep(500)
Send ("!c") ;This sends ALT+c (for connect, if this is the name written on the connect button)
sleep(500)

Obviously you have to compile it to make a .exe file, which does not need any installation.

found this
http://www.ntcompatible.com/thread29067-1.html
Create a batch file containing these three lines:

rasdial ISPname username password
"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE"
exit


Notes:

The ISPname must match the name of your dial-up as listed in Network
Connections. username and password as per login for ISP.

OK, got it to work
cmd /k "C:\Documents and Settings\Me\Desktop\test.lnk"

Is there a way of saying current directory rather than having to type the entire path?  I need to do this command as a batch file for many of our staff to run and each machine will be different?

Thanks

Use %CD% in your batch file

If the batch file is placed on the desktop (the same dir as the .lnk) then you don't need the path
cmd /k test.lnk

okay, that's working great!  What I now need to do is the following:

After the VPN connection has come up and is running, after say 30 seconds I need to use the following command:

net use X: \\192.168.0.1\sharedrive

This will then map a network drive which is on our internet VPN'd network.

Thanks

DB

there is one problem with the /k switch, it leaves an open cmd window

Use sleep 30 if you installed resource kit

Or PING 1.1.1.1 -n 10 -w 1000 >NUL, but be sure to choose a NON-existent IP address

Stevenlewis, you can substitute /k, with /c

the easy way is to create another batch file and tell the user to double click on it after the connection is made

elbereth21
tried the /c switch, and it closes before executing :-(

That's what we had been doing but we want it as simple as possible, I tried the ping routine and it doesn't work!  After the VPn connection has been both the CMD window stays open as the /C command also doesn't work and the PING command doesn't start - is there another way to sleep it for 30 seconds and then get it to launch another function/procedure?

DB

While I don't know how to do it, I think this is more appropriate for a wsh file (windows scripting host)
you can pass alot of arguments to it that way

/K      Carries out the command specified by string but remains
so it will not execute anything after the string

Just FYI - in case you still need help:

I set up something VERY SIMILAR a few months ago.  I wish I read this post sooner.

I set a batch file on a few off-site machines to automatically VPN into our main server at a set time each night.
I also had the remote machines map a drive afterwards.

This was actually so I could remotely backup some data on a few servers.

Well, if you still have un-answered questions, let me know.

-z-

???

Sorry, for being late, I was out of the office these days. Well, fsbsupport, thanks for accepting my answer, but I think it would have been better if you had split the points with stevenlewis, I am sure his suggestions helped you.

sorry, you're right and I wanted to - I just don't know how to.....

DB