anyone know how do i execute an external program from VS.NET code (VB.NET, C#).

In VB.NET it's really rather simple.

Shell("C:\cat.txt")

or to run a system command:

shell("regedit")

Good luck with your programming!

C#

Process.Start("app.exe");

Remember to use the System.Diagnostics namespace for it to work, or else just

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("app.exe");

That goes for VB.NET also, which is prefered instead of the Shell action, because the other way gives you much more control, and you can set specific actions for your execution!

Man i just wanna thanx you guys...

have been looking for a way to execute defragmenter with vb.net

been looking for weeks... now i know

Shell("defrag C:")

is that simple...to execure a program

ps: do you guys know how to execure a program from a specific directory?

antcheah

the same way will work. Just put the path in there.

shell("C:\program\program.exe")

How about assigning a variable ???

like

DIM X as string = "defrag C:"
X = """ & X & """

shell(X)

it does not seem to work if i set a variable to assign a value to the shell

i would have to type hard code it for it to work...any alternative?

ps: if assign X to a label would get

"defrag C:"

antcheah

Shell("http://www.link.com")

can that work??

I hope someone can help.

I am trying to do about the same thing but I can't get the exe file to work if I put any switches after it.

For example:

shell("netstat.exe -ano > c:\temp.txt")

This just flashes the command window and I get no output file on my c drive.

I have also tried:

shell("netstat.exe -ano > ""c:\temp.txt""")

I tried this because in the help section they say the path can be lost if you don't double quote the path. Anyhow it didn't help any.

I've tried a number of other methods like tossing the string in a variable like the guy above and then putting the variable in the shell function. But that doesn't work either.

The only way I can get it to work is if I use:

shell("netstat.exe")

I have also tried these different ways using Process.Start

And putting the switches in for the arguements. Anyhow that is where I'm at and I'm just spinning my wheels currently.

Does anyone know how to get the switches to work after an exe in vb .net?

Update:

Well I still haven't figured out how to do it in VB.net. But I can call on a batch file from vb.net, which then fires: netstat -ano > c:\netstat.txt

It worked that way but that is round about and ugly. Anyone have something more sound? Please!

Folks, don't use Shell in .NET. Use what has already been suggested, Process.Start. I couldn't even get Shell to work in my build of Visual Studio for whatever reason but Process.Start worked great. Obviously, Microsoft wants us to get away from the Shell command. I'm more than happy to oblige.

Usefull infos! But I have a question:

let's assume you want to run telnet toward a server

and send over commands and retrieve the output produced.

Is there a way to accomplish this task?

thank you all and have worthy developing!

Simone

ITALY

How about assigning a variable ???

like

DIM X as string = "defrag C:"
X = """ & X & """

shell(X)

it does not seem to work if i set a variable to assign a value to the shell

i would have to type hard code it for it to work...any alternative?

ps: if assign X to a label would get

"defrag C:"

antcheah

As I said, you should use the System.Diagnostics namespace, and the class Process will take care of that for you.

Like an example:

using System.Diagnostics;

private void startProcess(string Path, string fileName)

{

Process install = new Process();

install.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = path;

install.StartInfo.FileName = fileName;

install.Start();

}

And then in your code you execute like this:

startProcess("C:\", "file.exe");

Above was just to show the options, you could do it like this:

Process.Start("C:\file.exe");

You see the potential?

Folks, don't use Shell in .NET.  Use what has already been suggested, Process.Start.  I couldn't even get Shell to work in my build of Visual Studio for whatever reason but Process.Start worked great.  Obviously, Microsoft wants us to get away from the Shell command.  I'm more than happy to oblige.

That's probably because you tried in C#, the Shell command is VB(.NET) only!

ls,

below an example with redirection and parameters(arguments)

the output streams are redirected to a string that you can use in your program.

gr /\/\o\/\/

PS. for a batch file the trick is to use the FOR command to get the uotput from a vbscript to a variable

for /f %%i in ('cscript //nologo bin\GetFysicalNode.vbs %source%') do set Server=%%i

---------------------------------------------

Dim objProcess As New Process()

' Start the Command and redirect the output

objProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = False

objProcess.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = True

objProcess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = True

objProcess.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = True

objProcess.StartInfo.FileName() = "Cluster"

objProcess.StartInfo.Arguments() = "/Cluster:" & strMachineName & " res /priv"

objProcess.Start()

strOutput = objProcess.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd()

strError = objProcess.StandardError.ReadToEnd()

objProcess.WaitForExit()