How can we execute Commands through VC++ application

  • 13 years ago

    Hi All,

    I am newbie to VC++ and I am developing an utility which will format the drives of the system. The same I want to implement by executing "format" command through my utility. Can anybody help me by giving a peice of code in VC++ that how we can create a process, run commands by invoking command.exe and make it wait until the command finishes its task.

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    thanks,

    sri.

  • 13 years ago
    There is a CreateProcess() API if you need it.  But to be honest the easiest way is just to use the system() function declared in stdlib.h:
    #include
    int main(int argC, char ** argV) {
    system("format");
    return 0;
    }






    Remeber to pass in the apropriate flags so that it doesnt prompt the user if they want to continue.

    You can get the listing for most windows commands (including format) by using the /? switch on the command line.  Eg type this on the command line:
    format /?

    Hope this helps








  • 13 years ago

    You can use 'ShellExecute' function (in 'windows.h') to open(run) or explore or print a file or directory.

    The following code is compiled under VC++6 (as a console app) in 'WinXP Pro. SP2' and tested. It will open a command prompt (cmd.exe) session and run "format D:" command.

    For more infos do a windows search(F1) for 'cmd' and 'format'.

    After the code I've brought MSDN98 help for 'ShellExecute' function.

    If you want that Command Prompt not to be closed after accomplishing 'format' command, you should change '/c' in fourth parameter of function 'ShellExecute' to '/k'.

    Normally, WinXP will asks the lable of drive that is being formatted, then if that was right, asks to ensure formatting (I don't know how to avoid asking for lable of drive or formatting assurance).

    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;

    #include <windows.h> // ShellExecute()

    int main()
    {
     
     ShellExecute (NULL, "open", "C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe", "/c \"format D:\"", NULL, SW_SHOW );


     return 0;
    }

    Above code is equivalent to : (except that 'ShellExecute' will show a new window for each call of that, but 'system' will just execute that command in command prompt window of your app )

    #include <iostream>
    using namespace std;

    #include <cstdlib> // system()

    int main()
    {
     
     system ("format d:");


     return 0;
    }


    -----------------------------------------------

    MSDN98 Help :

    ShellExecute

     

    HINSTANCE ShellExecute(
        HWND hwnd, 
        LPCTSTR lpOperation,
        LPCTSTR lpFile, 
        LPCTSTR lpParameters, 
        LPCTSTR lpDirectory,
        INT nShowCmd
    );	
    

    Opens or prints a specified file.

    • Returns a value greater than 32 if successful, or an error value that is less than or equal to 32 otherwise. The following table lists the error values. The return value is cast as an HINSTANCE for backward compatibility with 16-bit Windows applications.
      0 The operating system is out of memory or resources.
      ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND The specified file was not found.
      ERROR_PATH_NOT_FOUND The specified path was not found.
      ERROR_BAD_FORMAT The .exe file is invalid (non-Win32® .exe or error in .exe image).
      SE_ERR_ACCESSDENIED The operating system denied access to the specified file.
      SE_ERR_ASSOCINCOMPLETE The file name association is incomplete or invalid.
      SE_ERR_DDEBUSY The DDE transaction could not be completed because other DDE transactions were being processed.
      SE_ERR_DDEFAIL The DDE transaction failed.
      SE_ERR_DDETIMEOUT The DDE transaction could not be completed because the request timed out.
      SE_ERR_DLLNOTFOUND The specified dynamic-link library was not found.
      SE_ERR_FNF The specified file was not found.
      SE_ERR_NOASSOC There is no application associated with the given file name extension.
      SE_ERR_OOM There was not enough memory to complete the operation.
      SE_ERR_PNF The specified path was not found.
      SE_ERR_SHARE A sharing violation occurred.
    hwnd Window handle to a parent window. This window receives any message boxes that an application produces. For example, an application may report an error by producing a message box. lpOperation Address of a null-terminated string that specifies the operation to perform. The following operation strings are valid:
    "open" The function opens the file specified by the lpFile parameter. The file can be an executable file or a document file. It can also be a folder.
    "print" The function prints the file specified by lpFile. The file should be a document file. If the file is an executable file, the function opens the file, as if "open" had been specified.
    "explore" The function explores the folder specified by lpFile.

    This parameter can be NULL. In that case, the function opens the file specified by lpFile.

    lpFile Address of a null-terminated string that specifies the file to open or print or the folder to open or explore. The function can open an executable file or a document file. The function can print a document file. lpParameters If the lpFile parameter specifies an executable file, lpParameters is an address to a null-terminated string that specifies the parameters to be passed to the application. If lpFile specifies a document file, lpParameters should be NULL. lpDirectory Address of a null-terminated string that specifies the default directory. nShowCmd If lpFile specifies an executable file, nShowCmd specifies how the application is to be shown when it is opened. This parameter can be one of the following values:
    SW_HIDE Hides the window and activates another window.
    SW_MAXIMIZE Maximizes the specified window.
    SW_MINIMIZE Minimizes the specified window and activates the next top-level window in the z-order.
    SW_RESTORE Activates and displays the window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when restoring a minimized window.
    SW_SHOW Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position.
    SW_SHOWDEFAULT Sets the show state based on the SW_ flag specified in the STARTUPINFO structure passed to the CreateProcess function by the program that started the application. An application should call ShowWindow with this flag to set the initial show state of its main window.
    SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED Activates the window and displays it as a maximized window.
    SW_SHOWMINIMIZED Activates the window and displays it as a minimized window.
    SW_SHOWMINNOACTIVE Displays the window as a minimized window. The active window remains active.
    SW_SHOWNA Displays the window in its current state. The active window remains active.
    SW_SHOWNOACTIVATE Displays a window in its most recent size and position. The active window remains active.
    SW_SHOWNORMAL Activates and displays a window. If the window is minimized or maximized, Windows restores it to its original size and position. An application should specify this flag when displaying the window for the first time.

    If lpFile specifies a document file, nShowCmd should be zero.

    You can use this function to open or explore a shell folder. To open a folder, use either of the following calls:

    ShellExecute(handle, NULL, path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
    

    or

    ShellExecute(handle, "open", path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
    

    To explore a folder, use the following call:

    ShellExecute(handle, "explore", path_to_folder, NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
    

    If lpOperation is NULL, the function opens the file specified by lpFile. If lpOperation is "open" or "explore", the function will attempt to open or explore the folder.

    To obtain information about the application that is launched as a result of calling ShellExecute, use ShellExecuteEx.

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