how to synchronously "shell"

I am using shell() to run another application.
But how I can know that application has terminated or not.
Or is there a method I can call another application and wait until it's terminated?

Thx.
lupus

I posted this a few days ago, but here it is again (slightly modified):

Wait until an app is loaded

Code:

---

Private Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Private Const INFINITE As Long = &HFFFF

Private Declare Function WaitForInputIdle _
                Lib "user32" _
                (ByVal hProcess As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CloseHandle _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function OpenProcess _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, _
                ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long

Private Sub cmdRunApp_Click()
  Dim hProcessID As Long
  Dim hProcess As Long
  Dim sShellPath As String
 
  sShellPath = "C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE"
 
  hProcessID = Shell(sShellPath, vbNormalFocus)
 
  If hProcessID <> 0 Then
      hProcess = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, 0, hProcessID)
     
      If hProcess <> 0 Then
        Call WaitForInputIdle(hProcess, INFINITE)
        Call CloseHandle(hProcess)
      End If
 
  End If

End Sub

---

Wait until an app is closed

Code:

---

Private Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Private Const INFINITE As Long = &HFFFF


Private Declare Function WaitForSingleObject _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal hHandle As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CloseHandle _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function OpenProcess _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, _
                ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long

Private Sub cmdRunApp_Click()
  Dim hProcessID As Long
  Dim hProcess As Long
  Dim sShellPath As String
 
  sShellPath = "C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE"
 
  hProcessID = Shell(sShellPath, vbNormalFocus)
 
  If hProcessID <> 0 Then
      hProcess = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, 0, hProcessID)
     
      If hProcess <> 0 Then
        Call Me.Hide
        App.TaskVisible = False
        Call WaitForSingleObject(hProcess, INFINITE)
        Call CloseHandle(hProcess)
        App.TaskVisible = True
        Call Me.Show
      End If
 
  End If

End Sub

---

Keep in mind the above code is for 32-bit environments, if you're using 16-bit let me know and I'll post the code for it.

[Edited by SonGouki on 04-06-2000 at 10:59 AM]

Hello SonGouki!

What exactly does the code above do and how would you run it? I tried copying it into a form, although it is still missing some API. I just like to know when I would use something like this.

Thanks SonGouki

Thanks. It works (after some modification. :))

Sorry guys, I just edited the code now... I had forgotten to take out the "api" prefixes in front of the calls (my own coding standard). It should work now with no problems.

Nitro, if you want to see what it does put a MsgBox with vbSystemModal at the end of the cmdRunApp_Click procedure and change the sShellPath to start something that takes time, like Word. Also, I guess I should of mentioned this last time, don't try to step through this code! Also, you'll see what it does better if you compile it into an executable and run that instead of running it in the VB IDE.

Sorry 'bout the confusion.

I have tried the following code and I am getting an error that I can not create activeX object.

Code:

---

Private Const SYNCHRONIZE As Long = &H100000
Private Const INFINITE As Long = &HFFFF

Private Declare Function WaitForInputIdle _
                Lib "user32" _
                (ByVal hProcess As Long, ByVal dwMilliseconds As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function CloseHandle _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal hObject As Long) As Long

Private Declare Function OpenProcess _
                Lib "kernel32" _
                (ByVal dwDesiredAccess As Long, ByVal bInheritHandle As Long, _
                ByVal dwProcessId As Long) As Long

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Dim hProcessID As Long
    Dim hProcess As Long
    Dim sShellPath As String
    Dim Xl As Excel.Application
  hProcessID = Shell("c:\program files\microsoft office\office\excel.exe", vbMinimizedFocus)
  If hProcessID <> 0 Then
      hProcess = OpenProcess(SYNCHRONIZE, 0, hProcessID)
      If hProcess <> 0 Then
        Call WaitForInputIdle(hProcess, INFINITE)
        Call CloseHandle(hProcess)
      End If
  End If
Set Xl = GetObject(, "excel.application")
MsgBox Xl.Caption
End Sub

---

I thought that the api calls should hold my program up until the shelled app finished loading. What am I doing wrong?

let me ask the following questions.
shell gives me the PID as a retval
can I find the handle of the programs window with this PID?
with the handle of the main window can I capture the main forms activate event?
I would think that when the activate event is triggered the application is finished loading.
would this be a logical approach?
if so, how can I capture the form_activate event if I only know the handle and PID?
thank you for your time and have a good day