Execute an external command?

BlitzMax Forums/BlitzMax Programming/Execute an external command?

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#1]

Is it possible?

Perturbatio

(Posted 2005) [#2]

which OS? (it can be done with API calls)

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#3]

On Mac/Win. I'm looking or an exec/run/command(progname, args) type thing. There must be one... or maybe not.

Red Ocktober

(Posted 2005) [#4]

winexec if i can remember correctly... should do it for win32...

--Mike

rdodson41

(Posted 2005) [#5]

For mac, you could import some C code which will do it for you. If you know C just look at Fork() and Exec().

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#6]

Thanks for the suggestions

marksibly

(Posted 2005) [#7]

Try:

system_ cmd$

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#8]

Compile Error: Identifier 'system_cmd' not found (w/wo space)

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#9]

Duh - it's late here ;-) Thanks, that works

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#10]

Any other goodies lurking about?

Perturbatio

(Posted 2005) [#11]

bear in mind system_ seems to wait until the called process has finished before continuing.

dmoc	(Posted 2005) [#12]

Perturbatio, thanks for the info, that's ok for my use.

Muttley

(Posted 2005) [#13]

For some reason when using system_ redirects seem to not work (on Windows, at least).

If, for example, you do the following on a command line the output is sent to a file:

echo > test.txt

But if in Max you do this:

system_("echo > test.txt")

the output just goes to the screen.

Any ideas? This has me stumped and I'm relying on being able to parse the output from an external command. :(

According to all the docs I can find on the net, redirects should work with the system() call.

Cheers

Muttley

EOF	(Posted 2005) [#14]

(Recently posted on another thread)

This should work on all three systems. Not certain though.
It uses Skids excellent FreeProcess library.

I have pulled various bits out of my FrameWork Assistant to show you how I launch an external program:

First, import skidracers module:

Import PUB.FreeProcess

Now create a global TProcess variable:

Global proc:TProcess

When you are ready to launch an external program:

Function RunApp(myapp$)
    ' check if application is still running
    If proc<>Null
        If proc.Status()
            Notify "program still running!"
            Return
        EndIf
    EndIf
    ' run program
    proc=TProcess.Create(myapp$,0)
    If Not Proc
        Notify "Failed to launch "+myapp$
    EndIf
End Function

What's nice about this method is, you can prevent multiple launches of an application (as I do above) and when you close your own program Max shuts down the running app too.