How to use shell script in visual basic

[dawtes]

I have a .EXE file that i would like to run in visual basic.I did try to use shell script but it does not give me the result i am expecting to get. I need to double click for the exe file to be executed and i do not really know if i can do this inside the visula basic code.
Private Sub Command1_Click()
Dim p1 As Integer
Dim L As Integer
Dim I As String
Dim FileString As String



FileCopy "J:\IO\qebsfnam\pass2ebs", "C:\pass2ebs.txt"

If Dir("C:\pass2ebs.txt") <> "" Then
Open "C:\pass2ebs.txt" For Input As #1
Else
Message = "File not found"
End If
Exit Sub
Rem Open "C:\pass2ebs.txt" For Input As #1
Open "C:\pass.txt" For Output As #2
Do While Not EOF(1)
Line Input #1, FileString
L = Len(FileString)
p1 = InStr(FileString, "/")
I = LTrim(Left(FileString, 6))

If (I = "ITEM01" And p1) Then
If Mid(FileString, p1 - 4, 1) <> "." Then
FileString = Left(FileString, p1 - 4) & "." & Right(FileString, L - p1 + 4)
Print #2, FileString
Else: Print #2, FileString
End If
Else: Print #2, FileString
End If
Loop
Close #1
Close #2

Kill "C:\pass2ebs.txt"
Name "C:\pass.txt" As "C:\pass2ebs.txt"

End Sub




Private Sub Command2_Click()
Shell ("c:\gen.exe")
End Sub

 

[TipGiver]

If the file to launch is exe then:
Shell "filepath\finame.exe" [, **]
where ** is optional argument for the app state (vbNormalFocus etc)

Example: Shell "c:\gen.exe"


If the file to launch is not exe then:
Shell "application path.exe abc.txt" [, **]

Example: Shell "C:\windows\notepad.exe abc.txt"
Example: Shell "C:\program files\... \word.exe abc.doc

 

[dawtes]

I did just use that but I do not seem to have a luck with it.It works fine when i use other executable files like notepad.exe , However For this GEN.EXE file to be executed I do need to to make a double click on it for me to get the result.I am not sure how i am able to do that inside the visual basic.

 

[TipGiver]

This gen.exe is a windows app, console app, what ?

 

[dawtes]

It is a program created by the third party for our bidding process.what is does is when i run it create a file we use for our online bidding.I was hoping to write a simple script to copy this file from server and run it and generate those files

 

[TipGiver]

Is there an error when the shell is executed?

What i thought of is: The copy from the server is not finished and during the download proccess the shell is executed. Can you try something like this?

' code in a button:

DoEvents
'call the sub to download the file to save it in "c:\"
Shell "c:\gen.exe"

 

[TipGiver]

Err...

If Dir("C:\pass2ebs.txt") <> "" Then
Open "C:\pass2ebs.txt" For Input As #1
Else
Message = "File not found"
End If
Exit Sub ' should this be placed here ?? Or somewhere between If and End If ?


One other suggestion: these #1 and #2, if those numbers are in use -> problem <-

So: dim f as freefile()
and: #f instead of #1 and #2
at the end: Close(f)