How to launch an application using a link

[fhutt]

Hello
I would like to launch an application by using a link.
I tried the 'exec' function but I get an error saying the file cannot be executed.

Can anyone please help
Fhutt

 

[Bong]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you saying that you want to launch a non-Tcl application (like, say, a .exe file on Windows) from within a Tcl script? If so, what do you mean by "link"? If not, what are you trying to do? Sorry to be obtuse but I don't see what you're getting at.

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Bob Rashkin

 

[fhutt]

Hello Bong
I am trying to execute a link something like this:

'exec filename.lnk'

where filename.lnk is a link to a file dbmgt.exe.
The procedure 'exec dbmgt.exe' works. but using the link file gives an error saying that the file cannot be executed.
Hope you understand my problem now.
Thanks
Fhutt

 

[Bong]

I think I understand. I believe the problem is that "xxx.lnk" cannot be executed from a DOS shell so Tcl's "exec" won't do it either. As a simple experiment, open a DOS shell and type in "<whatever>.lnk" where "<whatever>" is a shortcut in the current directory. You'll get an error. I think it's because the .lnk's are Windows executables, not DOS executables.

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Bob Rashkin

 

[fhutt]

Hello Bong

Yes, you are right, it does not execute from a cammand prompt.

So, how do I execute the 'filename.lnk' through a TCL script?

Thanks
Fhutt

 

[Bong]

I don't think you can. You would have to launch Windows and I don't think that would be a very productive approach.
Tcl only supports symbolic links and Windows does not use them.

_________________
Bob Rashkin

 

[fhutt]

Hello Bong
Maybe there is simple program or script that can extract the information from the .lnk file to find the executable.

Do you or anyone else know of such a program of script?

Thanks
Fhutt

 

[Bong]

I don't know of such a thing.

_________________
Bob Rashkin