Console application I/O redirection. (edited the post on 01-20-2005)

[Peter Swinkels]

Based on information and examples I found on the internet (and these forums) I wrote a program that should redirect the output from a console program to a Visual Basic program and recieve its input from that Visual Basic program.

The console program is launched by using the CreateProcess function so that the stdinput and stdoutput handles for the console program can be set. The I/O is sent through a pipe created by the CreatePipe function. The ReadFile and WriteFile API functions are used to read or write the I/O.

So far I only managed to get it to work partially at best. Whenever I try to get the output only, it gets the first bit of output. When I try to check for output again, my program freezes up. When I try to send input the program always freezes instantly when started.

Can any one tell me what I am doing wrong or point me to information involving console I/O redirection? Preferably information about how to do this in Visual Basic not in C++ or something.

The program I wrote is attached to this message.

BTW: I am using Visual Basic 5.0 professional and don't have Visual Basic.net which from what I have heard has better support for console programs.