How to run a file in a specified program through c++

Question

I am trying to use the ShellExecute command for launching a program and open a file through a c++ code. I have included windows.h. The code I am writing is as follows:

ShellExecute(GetDesktopWindow(), "open", "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\EMSO\\bin\\emso.exe","C:\\Program Files (x86)\\EMSO\\bin\\MultiCSTR_Reaction.mso", NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);

The code opens the executable file but is not able to open the .mso file. It generates dialog boxes saying- 'File 'C:\Program' not found', 'File 'Files' not found' and 'File '(x86)\EMSO\bin\MultiCSTR_Reaction.mso' not found.' I can open the file through the command line. But how to open through a c++ code.

Violet Giraffe · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-03 12:07:15Z

1

Try the path to a file (4th argument to ShellExecute) as follows:

"\"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\EMSO\\bin\\MultiCSTR_Reaction.mso\""

Programs can take multiple command line arguments separated by spaces. So, if you try to pass a string that contain spaces as an argument, you'll find it split into as many arguments as many spaces there are. To avoid this, the string needs to be surrounded by quotes.

edited Jul 3, 2013 at 12:07

answered Jul 3, 2013 at 10:28

Violet Giraffe

33.8k56 gold badges212 silver badges366 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Gui13 Over a year ago

@Violet you could maybe explain why you added the quotations (spaces in the path), for clarity.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to run a file in a specified program through c++

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related