asked on

Running DOS Commands from Code

Hi all,

Im using this line of code:
Shell("CMD /K BUTIL -CLONE MTASLIN.8 MTASLIN.B")
to run an application called BUTIL.exe through a DOS window, however, before I use the DOS command above I need to be able to specify which directory the DOS promt should go to. Can someone tell me how to write more than 1 line of DOS code using Shell form VB.NET

Thanks :o)

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

imnajam

membership

This solution is only available to members.

To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.

Start Free Trial

Éric Moreau

Hi kiranboi,

In VB.Net, you should use Process.Start instead of Shell

Cheers!

imnajam

for example

ipconfig release & ipconfig renew

you can also loop it as "cd c:\test\program & butil -clone mtaslin.8 mtaslin.b"

Shell("CMD /K cd c:\testing\abc & BUTIL -CLONE MTASLIN.8 MTASLIN.B")

Bob Learned

I agree with emoreau, the Process class has much better control over running DOS commands.

Here is a class to highlight:

Imports System.Diagnostics

Public Class DOSCommander

Public Shared Function RunCommand(ByVal command As String, ByVal arguments As String, ByVal createWindow As Boolean, ByVal timeOut As Integer, ByRef output As String) As Integer

Dim proc As New Process

proc.StartInfo.Arguments = "/c " & command & " " & arguments
proc.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = Not createWindow
proc.StartInfo.ErrorDialog = True
proc.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe"
proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = False
proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardInput = False
proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = True
proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False

If createWindow Then
proc.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal
End If

proc.Start()

If timeOut = -1 Then
proc.WaitForExit()
Else
proc.WaitForExit(timeOut)
End If

output = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()

Return proc.ExitCode

End Function

End Class

Sample usage:
Dim output As String = ""
DOSCommander.RunCommand("dir", "c:\windows", False, 3000, output)

Bob