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Trying to understand the difference between an executable call at the Run command versus a command prompt.

If I call the Excel executable (excel.exe) from a command prompt, it doesn’t work (Image 1). If I call it from the run command, however, it works just fine (Image 2). Why does the Run command know what to do with excel.exe whereas, the command prompt doesn’t? In an effort to answer my own question, I started poking around my computer’s Environment Variables. (I’m running W7 Pro.)

I took a look at the Path Variable, there’s no hint of C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office (or %programfiles%\Microsoft Office).

Is there another Environment Variable that the Run command has the privilege of using that the command prompt does not? Or, does the difference in behavior reside somewhere else?

From-Command-Prompt.png
From-Run-Command.png

EnriquePhoenix

you need to give it a location where its located
cd Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\
excel.exe

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Guy Hengel [angelIII / a3]

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EnriquePhoenix

This site has a good breakdown on how to modify your enviromental variables

http://www.voidspace.org.uk/python/articles/command_line.shtml

ragijshah

This is mainly due to two type of environment variable.

1) User Variable and 2) System Variable.

You can copy Path from System variable to user variable and both will work in same way for you.

jdana

ASKER

angelIII,

You mention "registered" applications. Is that the key? Does the Run Command know what to do with excel.exe through the OS (Windows 7) and registry values?

J

SOLUTION

oBdA