How to call CMD without opening a window

Question

I've an C++ method (using Visual Studio, if it helps) that calls to cmd like this:

start \B example.exe arg1 arg2 arg3

The problem is that this call opens a (cmd) window. If i have another cmd opened, \B works, but if not, it opens a new window.

I also tried without start \B but it's the same....

I want to avoid this new window, but I don't know how. Any idea?

Answer 1

You can use the "/C" switch

cmd.exe /c dir/b 

this will run the "dir/b" command and exit-- no window will be shown, but if you want to set the ECHO off use the "/q" switch

cmd.exe /c/q dir

Answer 2

Try ShellExecuteEx, setting nShow=SW_HIDE.

Answer 3

I dont know how to do it in C++ but to open a new command prompt window that is also minimized (or "hidden") using a batch file i would use:

start /min cmd

Or if you start the command prompt you can type:

@echo off
cls && start /b cmd

This restarts the current command prompt window with out closing it, however all previously set environment variables are reset. Hope this helps!

(PS. This was tested and was successful on Windows 7 Ultimate OS)

Answer 4

Just call it without start:

example.exe arg1 arg2 arg3

Answer 5

How about using WSH instead of a CMD Prompt?

You can use the .Run , 0 to hide the window like:

Set objShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
isHidden = 0 'change 0 to 1 to show the CMD prompt
objShell.Run "%comspec% /c myfile.bat", isHidden