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Home > Forums > Programmers > DBMS Packages > Microsoft: Visual FoxPro > FAQs

Microsoft: Visual FoxPro FAQ

Tips -N- Tricks

How to run DOS program in background effectively

faq184-4377

Posted: 1 Nov 03 (Edited 1 Nov 03)

When we use RUN command with /N7, sometimes the program doesn't execute properly or not run at all. My suspect is, VFP execute the command and get back to VFP too fast, so it doesn't have enough time to create DOS environment.

In order to run DOS program running in background properly we can simply call DOS Commander (Command.com for Win9X/ME, Cmd.exe for NT/2K/XP) and let it do the job for our application, while we can continue our program.

Thanks to:
1. Jim Osieczonek (jimoo)
For encouraging me to make FAQ. So this is my first time :)

2. Ramani - (Subramanian.G)
For the correction and provided another example

*** ---------------
** Example 1, using Run/! command
If file('test.txt')
   Erase test.txt
endif
lcCmd = GetCommander() + ' ping localhost > test.txt'
Clear
? 'Using RUN command. Pinging localhost, wait...'
RUN /N7 &lcCmd
= inkey(8)
If file('test.txt')
   lcString = FileToStr('test.txt')
   ? lcString
   = inkey(0)
else
   ?? ' Failed!'
endif

** Example 2, using ShellExecute
If file('test.txt')
   Erase test.txt
endif
Declare Integer ShellExecute in Shell32.dll ;
   Long nhWnd, String cAction, String cFile, ;
   String cParam, String cDirectory, Integer nShow
lcCmd = GetCommander(.T.)
lcParam = '/C ping localhost > test.txt'
Clear
? 'Using ShellExecute. Pinging localhost, wait...'
ShellExecute(0, Null, lcCmd, lcParam, Null, 0)
= inkey(8)
If file('test.txt')
   lcString = FileToStr('test.txt')
   ? lcString
   = inkey(0)
else
   ?? ' Failed!'
endif

** Example 3, using Windows Script
** Provided by: Ramani
** WSH must exist on client computer
If file('test.txt')
   Erase test.txt
endif
loShell = CreateObject("wscript.shell")
lcCmd = GetCommander()
lcCmd = lcCmd + ' ping localhost > test.txt'
Clear
? 'Using Windows Script. Pinging localhost, wait...'
loShell.Run(lcCmd, 0, .f.)
= inkey(8)
If file('test.txt')
   lcString = FileToStr('test.txt')
   ? lcString
   = inkey(0)
else
   ?? ' Failed!'
endif

** The function
Function GetCommander(tlFilename)
Local lcDir, lcCmd
   ** Use COMSPEC instead of WINDIR. Corrected by: Ramani
   lcDir = AddBS(JustPath(GetEnv('ComSpec')))
   If tlFilename    && get the filename only
      If file(lcDir + 'Cmd.exe')   && Is NT ?
         lcCmd = 'Cmd.exe'
      else
         lcCmd = 'Command.com'
      endif
   else
      If file(lcDir + 'Cmd.exe')
         lcCmd = lcDir + 'Cmd.exe /C'
      else
         lcCmd = lcDir + 'Command.com /C'
      endif
   endif

   Return lcCmd
EndFunc

*** ---------------

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