Getting visual C++ to start a external program

[SmileeTiger]

Does anyone know how I could get VC++ to run a external program?<br>
<br>
When I click on a button I want the program to start running in another window.<br>
<br>
Anyone have any ideas??

 

[SmileeTiger]

Hi I figured it out!!<br>
<br>
STARTUPINFO si;<br>
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;<br>
<br>
// Execute the command with a call to the CreateProcess API call.<br>
memset(&si,0,sizeof(STARTUPINFO));<br>
si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);<br>
si.wShowWindow = SW_SHOW;<br>
CreateProcess(NULL,&quot;c:\\com2io2.exe&quot;,NULL,NULL,FALSE,0,NULL,NULL,&si,&pi);<br>
CloseHandle(pi.hThread);<br>
CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);

 

[Clay]

or if it is a windows application you just have to use the<br>
WinExec("Notepad.exe", SW_SHOW) command.<br>
<br>
Whereas Notepad.exe is the name of the executable file.<br>
Could be Whatever.exe.

 

[SmileeTiger]

Using the code I specifed above does anyone know of a way to have the window always appear ontop? Right now I have the program started in the on initial updat section for my program. This program is started when the application first starts

 

[gleason]

I'm not sure what you mean exactly, so ignore this if it doesn't solve your problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;Are you looking for a way to wait until the program that you are starting (com2io2.exe) ends before continuing so that other windows in your mainline application don't pop up over it?&nbsp;&nbsp;If so, here is what I would do using your example above:<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;si.wShowWindow = SW_SHOW;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BOOL ret = CreateProcess (NULL, &quot;c:\\com2io2.exe&quot;,NULL,NULL,FALSE,0,NULL,NULL,&si,&pi);<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;if(ret)<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;{<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess,INFINITE); <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;CloseHandle(pi.hThread);<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;}<br><br>This way, the task (com2io2.exe) can do its job before the rest of your application goes on it's way...<br><br>Hope this helps!<br> <p>Pat Gleason<br><a href=mailto:gleason@megsinet.net>gleason@megsinet.net</a><br><a href= > </a><br>