External .exe file input

[banban]

Dear all,

I am quite new to programming so please bear with me if I am asking stupid questions.
I have searched the forums but couldn't find a (comprehensible) answer.

I am calling an external .exe file from VB, I do this with Shell.
The external .exe opens a command window and asks for a file name. I am trying to make vb to input a file name into the command window but I m not sure how. The SendKeys command doesn't seem to work.
Could somebody please help me out?
Thanks!!

[vb5prgrmr]

Oh boy, you will need to delve in to the API... Are you sure it is a command window and not a common dialog? And if it is a command window, ie a dos box, then does not the program accept command line parameters and if it does, would not passing it the path/file name of the file to be processed be better than trying to hook a cmd window? Then if you must hook into this window, you will have to delve into the API... FindWindow and SendMessage come to mind... Perhaps a better definition and/or a screen shot so we know exactly what you are trying to accomplish might be in order.



Good Luck

[banban]

Hmm, how can I tell if its a common dialog? And if it is, what can I do?

It is not a dos window, it doesnt have the C:\> and flashing cursor and you certainly can't type dos commands on it, it just asks for a file name.
I'll certainly try the Findwindow and Sendmessage, thanks for the suggestion!

[vb5prgrmr]

Lets see a screenshot of the dialog... A common dialog is displayed with most any program when you go to saveas, open, select a font, or select colors. This same dialog you would see in word, excel, acrobat, and so on...



Good Luck

[banban]

Oh, in that case its not a common dialog box, its a command box (dos box). How can I pass it the path/filename? I have tried inputing it to Shell e.g.

Shell("D:\test\cif.exe" & filename, AppWinStyle.MaximizedFocus)
but I get a file not found error!

Thank you very much for your help!

[banban]

And here is a screenshot

[TheBigB]

You might wanna try that with a space in between there

Shell("D:\test\cif.exe " & filename, AppWinStyle.MaximizedFocus)

Also, are you sure you're not using .NET?
I don't recognize that AppWinStyle

[banban]

I am using net... I'm in the wrong forum right? Sorry about that!
It doesn't work with the space either... unfortunately!

[TheBigB]

No problem, I notified the moderators.
If you want to send me the files, I sent you a private message with my email address.
(forum policy doesn't allow you to post executables)

[banban]

I dont think that sending an exe is necessary at this point. I suppose there must be a way to send information to a command box? Anyone??

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved from 'VB6 and Earlier' forum to 'VB.Net' (VB2002 and later) forum

(thanks for letting us know TheBigB )

[TheBigB]

Enter the commandline and navigate to D:\test
Then try "cif.exe /?"
Does it give you a list of parameters?

[Pradeep1210]

Have a look at this article that describes how to launch External Applications from VB.NET Application, send input to it and get output from it.
http://pradeep1210.spaces.live.com/b...y?sa=694013424

It is also in my signature.

[banban]

When I try cif.exe /? it practically ignores the /? runs the cif.exe and asks for an input file as in the screenshot above.

[banban]

Pradeep1210, in your code, where should I put my .exe file? If I understand this correctly, I should replace .FileName = "CMD.EXE" with .FileName = "CIF.EXE", right?

[Pradeep1210]

Try it. If it works then good.
Otherwise, start CMD.EXE and first send CIF.EXE as input then the filename etc.

[banban]

Hmmm, the problem is how to send the file name. You are proposing WriteLine(somevariable) right?
Great code by the way!

[Pradeep1210]

yes, and that somevariable can be your exe (with full path).

[banban]

Could someone please help me write a code with Findwindow and Sendmessage? Everything else doesn't seem to work.
Thanks!