Shell command help

Hello all,

I am using the Shell command in VB6 to run some propriatiary dos programs on some files. For one of these programs, running the generated command string from the DOS prompt works but running that same command string with Shell dosen't work.

The following command works:
Generated string cmd =
sfconvert.exe --s2m "C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\My Music\pddata-32007\CD Files\01 When We Dance.wav"

result = Shell(cmd, vbMinimizedNoFocus)
If result = 0 Then
MsgBox "Error: " & Format(result)
Else
hProcess = OpenProcess(&H100000, True, result)
WaitForSingleObject hProcess, -1
CloseHandle hProcess
End If

While a similar string dosen't work:
Generated string cmd =
sfcat.exe -o "C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\My Music\pddata-32007\CD Files\left.wav" delay.wav "C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\My Music\pddata-32007\CD Files\01 When We Dance.wav" < yes

result = Shell(cmd, vbMinimizedNoFocus)
If result = 0 Then
MsgBox "Error: " & Format(result)
Else
hProcess = OpenProcess(&H100000, True, result)
WaitForSingleObject hProcess, -1
CloseHandle hProcess
End If

This same command string works fine when executed from a dos prompt set to the VB applications runtime directory. This directory also contains the files delay.wav and yes (which is a text file) and all dos executables used. Any ideas on why this would not be working? Does it have something to do with the pipe in of the yes file?

Thanks,
Cyrus

try
mycmd = "cmd /c sfcat.exe -o ""C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\My Music\pddata-32007\CD Files\left.wav"" delay.wav ""C:\Documents and Settings\My Name\My Documents\My Music\pddata-32007\CD Files\01 When We Dance.wav"" < yes"

don't use cmd for your string as it is a dos command on it's own
i think i got all the quotes in the right places, also the file takes a little while before you can open it

The Shell command tends not to like long path/file names and parameters that contain spaces and *required* quotation marks. You're far better off using the ShellExecute API and building the parameter string seperately. For example:

VB Code:

Dim lngRetval As Long
   Dim strParameters As String
   
   strParameters = " /e " & Chr(34) & strFilName & Chr(34) & " " & Chr(34) & strSubKey & Chr(34)
   
   lngRetval = ShellExecute(0&, "open", "regedit.exe", strParameters, "C:\", SW_HIDE)

EDIT: or use the GetShortPathName API.