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Help / WLanguage / WLanguage functions / Standard functions / Windows functions / Executable functions
  • Using a command line
  • Using the exeActive constant
  • Return value of a WINDEV executable
  • Starting an application in WEBDEV server code
  • Starting an application in Windows Vista (and later)
  • Miscellaneous
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Stored procedures
Executes a program (an executable file, for example) from the current application.
WEBDEV - Server codeAjax This allows you to retrieve:
  • the return value of executable with the exeReturnValue constant.
  • the process identifier, also called PID with the exePID constant.
WEBDEV - Server code Remarks:
  • From Windows Vista, the applications may fail to start if the UAC mechanism is enabled. For more details, see remarks.
  • In 64-bit Windows, you can access a system directory from a 32-bit executable in a different directory. For more details, see Native 64-bit and native 32-bit.
Example
WEBDEV - Server code
// Start Notepad in default mode
ExeRun("NOTEPAD.EXE Readme.txt")
WEBDEV - Server code
// Start a program with long name containing space characters
// For example: Word with "My documents" as working directory

// Solution 1: Using the syntax specific to the multiline strings
// (to avoid doubling or tripling the quotes)
IF ExeRun([
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\WINWORD.EXE"
], ...
exeActive, exeDontWait, SysDir(srMyDocuments)) = False THEN
Error(ErrorInfo())
END

// Solution 2: Doubling the quotes
ExeRun("""C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\WINWORD.EXE""", ...
exeActive, exeDontWait, SysDir(srMyDocuments))
WEBDEV - Server code
// Start applications with a file in command line
// Name of application to start
sAppName is string = "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 6.0\Photoshp.exe"
// Name of the image to open
sImageName is string = "C:\Users\My Name\Pictures\Buildings\IMGP0993.JPG"

// Equivalent to "Start Run" 
// We must get a character string containing "" such as: 
// "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop 6.0\Photoshp.exe" 
// "C:\Users\My Name\Pictures\Buildings\IMGP0993.JPG"
IF ExeRun(StringBuild([
"%1" "%2"
], sAppName, sImageName)) = False THEN
Error(ErrorInfo())
END
Syntax

Running an executable (in locking or non-locking mode) Hide the details

<Result> = ExeRun(<Program name> [, <Mode> [, <Wait for end> [, <Working directory>]]])
<Result>: Boolean
  • True if the program was started,
  • False otherwise. ErrorInfo returns more details about the error.
PHP This function returns no result.
<Program name>: Character string
Name of program to start with its path and/or the parameters that must be passed to the program (if necessary).
  • If no path is specified, the program is sought in the current directory, then in the Windows directory and in the directories accessible by PATH.
  • If the executable corresponds to a long name with space characters, the following syntax must be used:
    <Program name> = " " " Long_name_with_spaces" " Command_line"
<Mode>: Optional integer constant
Program start mode (no action on DOS programs):
exeActive
(Default value)
The program run is active, it "takes control" over the current program.
exeIconizeThe program run is inactive and it is minimized.
exeInactiveThe program run is inactive: it is run while the current program keeps focus.
exeMaximizeThe program run is active, it "takes control" over the current program (the execution window is maximized).
exeNoHandleInheritanceIndicates that the executable should not inherit handles from the parent (applies to ALL handles, including files). The executable is independent of the application that launched it.
This constant can be combined with other application launch constants.
PHP This parameter is not available.
<Wait for end>: Optional Boolean constant
Configures the timeout before resuming the execution of the current program:
exeDontWait
(Default value)
The current program and the launched program run in parallel.
exeWaitThe current program resumes its execution when the program run is over.
PHP This parameter is not available.
<Working directory>: Optional character string
Working directory of application to start.
PHP This parameter is not available.
WEBDEV - Server codeWindowsLinuxAjax

Starting a program and retrieving a value Hide the details

<Result> = ExeRun(<Program name> [, <Mode> [, <Element to return> [, <Working directory>]]])
<Result>: Integer
Sought value:
  • Return value of the executable if <Element to return> corresponds to the exeReturnValue constant.
  • PID of the executable if <Element to return> corresponds to the exePID constant.
ErrorInfo is used to find out whether an error occurred.
<Program name>: Character string
Name of program to start with its path and/or the parameters that must be passed to the program (if necessary).
  • If no path is specified, the program is sought in the current directory, then in the Windows directory and in the directories accessible by PATH.
  • If the executable corresponds to a long name with space characters, the following syntax must be used:
    <Program name> = " " " Long_name_with_spaces" " Command_line"
<Mode>: Optional integer constant
Program start mode (no action on DOS programs).
exeActive
(Default value)
The program run is active, it "takes control" over the current program
exeIconizeThe program run is inactive and it is minimized
exeInactiveThe program run is inactive: it is run while the current program keeps focus
exeMaximizeThe program run is active, it "takes control" over the current program (the execution window is maximized)
<Element to return>: Optional constant
Configures the function result:
exePIDThe current program and the launched program run in parallel. <Result> corresponds to the identifier of created process (also called PID) if the executable was successfully run, 0 if an error occurred.
This identifier can be used in some APIs for example.
exeReturnValueThe current program resumes its execution when the program run is over. <Result> is the return value of the executable.
<Working directory>: Optional character string
Working directory of the application to be started.
Remarks

Using a command line

To pass parameters in command line to the executable run, you must specify the name and full path of the executable to run.
WEBDEV - Server codeWindowsLinuxAjax

Using the exeActive constant

If the process where the application is run (with the exeActive constant) runs a code allowing the calling program to regain focus, the called program loses control.
In order for the called program to keep focus, you must avoid:
In addition, the Button control (if there is one) whose associated "Click" event contains a call to ExeRun must not be "Tab Stop" ("Accessible by TAB" in the "UI" tab of the control description).
WEBDEV - Server codeWindowsLinuxAjax

Return value of a WINDEV executable

A WINDEV executable can return a value. Simply:
  1. Create an Integer variable global to the project.
  2. Initialize this variable with the value to return.
  3. Return this variable with the RETURN keyword in the project closing code.
WEBDEV - Server codeAjax

Starting an application in WEBDEV server code

ExeRun is run on the server, therefore the started application is run on the server.
By default, the application is only visible in the task manager because it is started from a service that does not interact with the Windows desktop.
In order for the program run to be visible on the server, the option "Allow the service to interact with the desktop" must be checked in the properties of the WEBDEV service.
WEBDEV - Server codeWindowsAjax

Starting an application in Windows Vista (and later)

If UAC (User Account Control) is enabled, the application that uses ExeRun to start another application must have higher permissions than the application that is started.
For example, a first application started with the administrator rights can start a second application that requires no specific rights.
If the second application requires greater rights than the application that starts it, the second application may fail to start. Windows proposes to enable the management of compatibility with Windows Vista. If the management of compatibility is enabled, the second application will be run during its next startup. You can also use ShellExecute.
WEBDEV - Server codeWindowsLinuxAjax

Miscellaneous

  • ExeRun does not modify the current directory. The current directory before running ExeRun is identical to the current directory after running ExeRun.
  • If the program run ignores the specified runtime mode, the program is run in exeActive mode.
Component: wd290std.dll
Minimum version required
  • Version 9
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Last update: 10/02/2023

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