How to run an app within an app?

[jian2587]

Can anyone tell me the code on how to run a program from a program and how to retrieve PC's info?And how to check if a file is exist or not?

Many regards

I am using VB5 Enterprise

Q1:

Shell "C:\file.exe", vbNormalFocus

'or

Declare Function ShellExecute Lib "shell32.dll" Alias "ShellExecuteA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpOperation As String, ByVal lpFile As String, ByVal lpParameters As String, ByVal lpDirectory As String, ByVal nShowCmd As Long) As Long

Public Const SW_SHOWNORMAL = 1

ShellExecute Me.hwnd, vbNullString, "C:\file.txt", vbNullString, "c:\", SW_SHOWNORMAL

Q3:

ffile = Dir("C:\file.exe")
If Not ffile = "" Then
Msgbox "file exists"
else
Msgbox "file doesn't exist"
End If

[Sophtware]

I found this code here in vb world.net for Starting a program in a program.

Option Explicit

Private Const GW_HWNDNEXT = 2

Private Declare Function GetWindowThreadProcessId Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, lpdwProcessId As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetParent Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function FindWindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As Long, ByVal lpWindowName As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindow Lib "user32" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal wCmd As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function GetWindowText Lib "user32" Alias "GetWindowTextA" (ByVal hwnd As Long, ByVal lpString As String, ByVal cch As Long) As Long
Private Declare Function SetParent Lib "user32" (ByVal hWndChild As Long, ByVal hWndNewParent As Long) As Long

Private old_parent As Long
Private child_hwnd As Long

' Return the window handle for an instance handle.
Private Function InstanceToWnd(ByVal target_pid As Long) As Long
Dim test_hwnd As Long
Dim test_pid As Long
Dim test_thread_id As Long

' Get the first window handle.
test_hwnd = FindWindow(ByVal 0&, ByVal 0&)

' Loop until we find the target or we run out
' of windows.
Do While test_hwnd <> 0
' See if this window has a parent. If not,
' it is a top-level window.
If GetParent(test_hwnd) = 0 Then
' This is a top-level window. See if
' it has the target instance handle.
test_thread_id = GetWindowThreadProcessId(test_hwnd, test_pid)

If test_pid = target_pid Then
' This is the target.
InstanceToWnd = test_hwnd
Exit Do
End If
End If

' Examine the next window.
test_hwnd = GetWindow(test_hwnd, GW_HWNDNEXT)
Loop
End Function

Private Sub cmdFree_Click()
SetParent child_hwnd, old_parent

cmdRun.Enabled = True
cmdFree.Enabled = False
End Sub

Private Sub cmdRun_Click()
Dim pid As Long
Dim buf As String
Dim buf_len As Long

' Start the program.
pid = Shell(txtProgram.Text, vbNormalFocus)
If pid = 0 Then
MsgBox "Error starting program"
Exit Sub
End If

' Get the window handle.
child_hwnd = InstanceToWnd(pid)

' Reparent the program so it lies inside
' the PictureBox.
old_parent = SetParent(child_hwnd, picChild.hwnd)

cmdRun.Enabled = False
cmdFree.Enabled = True
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Resize()
Dim hgt As Single

hgt = ScaleHeight - picChild.Top
If hgt < 120 Then hgt = 120

picChild.Move 0, picChild.Top, ScaleWidth, hgt
End Sub

Go to http://www.allapi.net for api's that get pc's info....
since i dont know what info you want secific i cant help.

You could put the window inside your program as well. By using the SetParent function and the FindWindow function.

Declare Function SetParent Lib "user32" (ByVal hWndChild As Long, ByVal
hWndNewParent As Long) As Long

'This will put a form inside a form.
SetParent Form1.hwnd, Me.hwnd

You could also use the FindWindow function like this:

Declare Function findwindow Lib "user32" Alias "FindWindowA" (ByVal lpClassName As String, ByVal lpWindowName As String) As Long
Declare Function SetParent Lib "user32" (ByVal hWndChild As Long, ByVal
hWndNewParent As Long) As Long

'Open up the calculator and try this:
'This will put the calculator in your form

Dim x
x = FindWindow(vbNullString, "Calculator")
If x = 0 Then
MsgBox "Window was not found!", 16
Else
SetParent x, Me.hWnd
End If