Using Shell Command To Open App In Windows

[johnmiller1950]

Greetings All,

I am trying to open an app in Windows with the shell command. Here is my code:
get shell("c:\Program Files\myAppName")

When I run the code, a console window titled "C:WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe" opens for a split second and then closes returning the result "1".

I suspect that the trouble lies with the SPACE between the word "Program" and "Files" in the path name. What I may be doing in this scenario is sending "c:\Program" with the parameter "Files\myAppName". I've tried putting the path name into variable XX and running "get shell(XX)", but I get the same results.

I eventually do want to send a parameter with this command, but I first have to figure out how to get the program to open. How does one format a pathname that uses a SPACE in a shell command? Can anyone help?

Please don't suggest using the "launch" command. This does work to open the program, but it doesn't allow me to send a parameter.

Thanks for your help,
John Miller

[doc]

Hello John,
If I'm understanding your problem correctly, I ran into something similar that someone else was having difficulty with...
This works well for me:

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
   -- must set the folder location to the same as target executable
   set the defaultFolder to "C:\PathToMyApp\"
   put "Myappname.exe"  & " myargumentlist" into tCommand -- notice space before argument list
   set the hideConsoleWindows to true
   get shell (tCommand)
   -- reset the default folder location back as it was if required
end mouseUp

Hope that helps,
-Doc-

[johnmiller1950]

Doc,

That solved my problem. Thanks!

John

[alemrantareq]

Did you tried with this command? -

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
   set the hideconsolewindows to true
   get shell("C:\progra~1\yourAppName.exe")
end mouseUp

[demossj]

I'm pretty sure you need to surround the path with quotes in the shell command.

Code: Select all

on mouseUp
   set the hideconsolewindows to true
   get shell("quote & C:\Program Files\yourAppName.exe & quote")
end mouseUp

[Klaus]

Hi friends,

there is also the function -> shortFilePath(filePath)
This will translate a long filepath WITH spaces into the old "DOS 8.1" format.
Very handy in situations like these


Best

Klaus

[bvlahos]

I'm entering these with LC 6.6.2 on Windows 7 in the IDE and I get errors on the shell command. Is there something else that needs to be set up?

[Klaus]

Hi Bill,

I'm entering these with LC 6.6.2...

what exactly are you entering?


Best

Klaus

[bvlahos]

The example I used was to get a directory listing from shell. What I really want to do is send “cmd=call=5555555555” to the mxie.lnk (shortcut to the application) in the path C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Start Menu\Programs\Zultys MX\ .

If I navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Start Menu\Programs\Zultys MX\ in the Windows cmd shell and then issue “mxie.lnk cmd=show” at the prompt the mxie application comes to the front. I will ultimately issue a call command as well which looks like this. "mxie.lnk cmd=call=5555555555" and will actually dial the number.

[Ultravibe]

Code: Select all

get shell (tCommand)

will this command locks execution of my App until launched program has finished?