C++ Executing external process

Question

I am trying to run an executable from a c++ program. I have looked and found 2 options:
system("C:\filepath\file.exe");
and
ShellExecute(GetDesktopWindow(), "open", "C:\filepath\file.exe", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWNORMAL);
Everything is beautiful, except it doesn't work.
For the first option, I had to include, apart from windows.h, also cstdlib, otherwise my code didn't build.
When I run the program, I get the error:
"file.exe" is not recognized as an internal or external command
I have set the Common Language Runtime Support (/clr) option for my project (and I also had to set the option Multi-threaded Debug DLL (/MDd) for the Runtime Library, otherwise again, it wouldn't build).
The second option will not build even with both libraries included. I get error:
error C3861: 'ShellExecute': identifier not found

I am using VS2010 on Windows7 - and would like this to work on multiplatform...

Am I asking too much ?
Thank you.

If you want this to be multiplatform, you can't use the Windows-specific ShellExecute. Your system command is correct; it sounds like you gave it an incorrect path. — Borealid
– Borealid, Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 23:14
Try escaping backslashes in the string argument to system(): system("C:\\filepath\\file.exe");. Chances are your first code snippet will work as expected then. — Frédéric Hamidi
– Frédéric Hamidi, Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 23:15
Um, no. Hans Passant escaped your backslashes when he edited your question. Try the code as @FrédéricHamidi and Hans suggested and it will work if the path is correct. — Carey Gregory
– Carey Gregory, Commented Feb 24, 2012 at 23:27
When I posted initially - there were just two lines of TEXT. My actual path is not in the filepath directory and my executable is not named file. I had double backslashes in my code from the beginning... I wish solutions were that simple. — Thalia
– Thalia, Commented Feb 25, 2012 at 0:01

mrsheen · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-24 23:58:07Z

2

When I run the program, I get the error: "file.exe" is not recognized as an internal or external command

If I start up a command line prompt and type in file.exe this is what I get:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7100]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\>file.exe
'file.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\>

answered Feb 24, 2012 at 23:58

mrsheen

9028 silver badges10 bronze badges

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

Comments

spencercw · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-24 23:16:42Z

1

You need to replace your backslashes with double backslashes, otherwise the compiler interprets them as escape sequences:

system("C:\\filepath\\file.exe");

Regarding ShellExecute, you need to include Shellapi.h as well as Windows.h, and you don't need to set the /clr flag. ShellExecute is part of the Windows API, so it won't work on other platforms.

answered Feb 24, 2012 at 23:16

spencercw

3,35817 silver badges21 bronze badges

7 Comments

spencercw Over a year ago

@user1217150 Are you sure your file exists and is where you have said it is?

Thalia Over a year ago

After including Shellapi.h - the Build just got funny. After listing a few errors from INSIDE Shellapi.h, I even got the following: "fatal error C1003: error count exceeds 100; stopping compilation". I don't think this program likes me.

Thalia Over a year ago

spencercw: I am actually running another C++ program and I copied its path from the Debug.

spencercw Over a year ago

@user1217150 Have you included Windows.h first? Most of the Windows headers don't work at all if you don't include Windows.h first.

Thalia Over a year ago

I have been able to run something just now using the system (ShellExecute will not build).<br> My problem - which didn't go away - is that i am trying to do this as part of "unit testing" (run that particular program with every command line option required and impossible), and if I surround my system command with a BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE(stuff) it doesn't work (it did when I removed the #include <boost/test/unit_test.hpp> and replaced the BOOST_AUTO_TEST_CASE with main. Is it totally wrong to want to run test cases this way ?

|

Thalia · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-08 20:10:43Z

1

Note that I wrote in my question: I have set the Common Language Runtime Support (/clr) option. I did that because of a previous error suggested it.
As soon as I removed that option, I was able to run the executable. Perhaps unmanaged code must remain unmanaged...

answered Mar 8, 2012 at 20:10

Thalia

14.8k22 gold badges103 silver badges199 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

C++ Executing external process

3 Answers 3

Comments

7 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

Comments

7 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related