how to execute console application from windows fo

Question

I want to run a console application (eg app.exe) from a windows form load event. I'v tried System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(), But after it opens app.exe, it closes it immidiately.

Is there any way that I can run app.exe and leave it open?

Answer 1

If you have control over app.exe, you should be aware of how it functions so I will assume that you do not have control over it's inner workings. In that case, you can try passing a help flag which may or may not give you more info on how to call app.exe. Try something like this:

private startApp()
{
    string command = " -h"; //common help flag for console apps
    System.Diagnostics.Process pRun;
    pRun = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
    pRun.EnableRaisingEvents = true;
    pRun.Exited += new EventHandler(pRun_Exited);
    pRun.StartInfo.FileName = "app.exe";
    pRun.StartInfo.Arguments = command;
    pRun.StartInfo.WindowStyle =  System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Normal

    pRun.Start();
    pRun.WaitForExit();
}
private void  pRun_Exited(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    //Do Something Here
}

Answer 2

Create a new text file, name it app.bat and put this in there:

app.exe
pause

Now have your form point to that bat file.

Answer 3

If you can change the code of app.exe, just add Console.In.Read() to make it wait for a key press.

Answer 4

app.exe can end with Console.ReadLine() assuming it too is a C# application where you control the source code.

Answer 5

Try doing this:

        string cmdexePath = @"C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe";
        //notice the quotes around the below string...
        string myApplication = "\"C:\\Windows\\System32\\ftp.exe\"";
        //the /K keeps the CMD window open - even if your windows app closes
        string cmdArguments = String.Format("/K {0}", myApplication);
        ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo(cmdexePath, cmdArguments);
        Process p = new Process();
        p.StartInfo = psi;
        p.Start();

I think this will get you the behavior you are trying for. Assuming you weren't just trying to see the output in the command window. If you just want to see the output, you have several versions of that answer already. This is just how you can run your app and keep the console open.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 6

If app.exe does nothing, or finishes its work quickly (i.e. simply prints "Hello World" and returns), it will behave the way you just explained. If you want app.exe to stay open after its work is done, put some sort of completion message followed by Console.ReadKey(); in the console application.