Bat file

[Stevie]

Whenever I release a new version of my software, I place the new version on the company server.

When users run their current version, it determines the version is not the latest and copies the latest version from the server via a bat file.

The bat files just copies across the new version and runs it. However the bat file does not close until after my software is closed (or the bat file is closed by the user).

How can I make the bat file close, and run my prog??

[Buzby]

Here's an idea - why not write a quick VB app to copy files instead of the .BAT file. Then this app could SHELL the main program just before it closes.

I have written similar programs - you create a 'BOOTSTRAP' program that sits on the network - this is the program that the user runs. My program checks the file date/time of the server copy of the .EXE and the one on the user's PC - if it is different the new .EXE is copied down to the user's machine (Along with any other files required), and then the .EXE is run from the user's C: drive.

[Stevie]

Cheers

I'll give that a go later on today.

[macai]

Another option is to put "exit" at the very end of your batch file,
which will close it.

[Stevie]

Putting exit at the end of the batch file does not work.

It does work when I'm not calling another app, but when I do it doesn't work.

[macai]

Your calling another app in the batch file, right? If so, the batch
file will wait for the program you just ran to end before it runs the
next line.

[Stevie]

Thats the point I'm getting at.

You need to go back and read my original post.

[macai]

True. WHat you could do is this to run the batch.

Sub RunBatch(BatchFile As String)
 Dim x() As String, y As String
 Open BatchFile For Input As #1
 y = Input(LOF(1), 1)
 Close #1
 x = Split(y, vbNewLine)
 For i = 0 To Ubound(x)
  Shell x(i)
 Next i
End Sub

Try that.

[Joacim Andersson]

Instead of using a compiled VB app to copy the file as suggested above, you could instead of the BAT file use a simple VBScript file. That is also easy to customize if the path of the source would ever change.

[Frans C]

How do you start the batch file?

If you start it like this:
Shell "command.com /c " & chr(34) & "c:\yourdir\thebat.bat" & chr(34)

the dos window will close when the last line is executed, and not when your program closes.

[Stevie]

Thanks Frans C.

I'll give that a go later on.