launchin an external program

[nabeels786]

for example, i have

#include<stdio.h>
#include<windows.h>

void main(int argc, char *argv[]){
	ShellExecute(NULL,"open","ping.exe","10.0.0.2","",4);
}

i want it to launch in the same window, i think i'd do that by instead of putting "NULL" for the handle, i put the handle for my app...but how do i get that? does c++ have an app.<x> for the console?

thanks

[nabeels786]

i also need it because i wanna use the SetTimer() and KillTimer()

thanks again

[wey97]

I don't think it's possible to load another program into the same
console. The hwnd is mainly for actual windows created with
CreateWindow(Ex)(..) so that it will be the parent that receives
messages from the child window such as errors. The hwnd in
such a case would only refer to the console and not your actual
application. I would suggest using an actual windows application.

[CornedBee]

Windows timers send messages. I'm not sure if you can get messages in a console app...

[nabeels786]

i know they send messages, ill do:

SetTimer(<hwnd>,1000,0, AddressOf(TimerProc);

.
.
.
void TimerProc(<parameters>);

[parksie]

Console programs ARE windows programs.

They just have an extra bit of code to create a console-style window and direct the input accordingly. If you've got the CRT source then have a look, it's quite interesting.

[nabeels786]

parksie - do you know how-to get the handle?

[parksie]

To what? The window? If you didn't create a window then you can't really. Although you could create a window specifically for it.

[nabeels786]

how would i go about doing that?

vc++6

i dont know too much c++, i know upto pointers & classes

[parksie]

If you're new to C++, then just stick with system("ping")

[nabeels786]

...but i wanna use the timer

[parksie]

Ah. Are you trying to make a keepalive program? You could do something like:

#include <windows.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
    for(;;) {
        system("ping.exe 10.0.0.2");
        Sleep(1000); // However many milliseconds between runs
    }

    return 0;
}

Obviously you'd have to put something in to check for a keypress to quit but I'll leave that as an exercise for the reader

[nabeels786]

well actually, the ping was just an example, i was wondering if it would work in the same window..

what i really need though is the Timer stuff...

thanks tho

[parksie]

For accuracy within about 30milliseconds, just call SetTimer using a callback function as given earlier You don't need a window for that.

[nabeels786]

so i just need to set the handle to "NULL" ?

[parksie]

Yep. Do a search for SetTimer on Google and that should give you plenty of reference info

[nabeels786]

okidokey, thanks alot!

[wey97]

Originally posted by parksie
Console programs ARE windows programs.

They just have an extra bit of code to create a console-style window and direct the input accordingly. If you've got the CRT source then have a look, it's quite interesting.

I was referring to an actual window created with CreateWindow.
You can't really call console apps "windows" programs if they
don't need a window (or Windows) to run.
Ex: void main(){blah; blah;} can be compiled and run from unix
or dos without a window.

just my 2 cents

[CornedBee]

but if the program is compiled as console app with vc++ it is a real windows program. It always depends on the runtime library...

You could get the window handle by calling SetConsoleTitle to set the window caption, then call FindWindow on it.