Dos command from mfc app

Lost User

Hi, I want to execute dos commands from my app, such as "dir", or "copy". Sorry if this is a "stupid" question...and yes, I did RTFM. **FOLLOW UP AND ANSWER** Found the best way to do this from a Win32 app is: WinExec ( "cmd.exe /c doscommand /switch parameters", SW_HIDE ) By doing cmd.exe the next command is executed in a new process and the cmd.exe window will close after execution. Also, by using WinExec, you get the added benefit of hiding the MS-DOS window. Thanks for everyone's suggestions and help!

imsniper

One Way is This UINT WinExec( LPCSTR lpCmdLine, // address of command line UINT uCmdShow // window style for new application );

Lost User

Unfortunately, I've tried this and it doesn't expose the dos commands available at the Ms-dos prompt, such as dir, copy, etc. Thanks for your reply.

Peter Zajac

Did you try ShellExecute or ShellExecuteEx?

Lost User

Tried that and it doesn't work. I've tried executing cmd.exe (nt) with dir as a parameter, and that doesn't work either. Any other ideas?

Konstantin Vasserman

cmd.exe has number of switches you have to use in order to make it execute a DOS command. For example: cmd.exe /c dir This will execute dir and will close dos window. cmd.exe /k dir This will execute dir and will dos window will remain open. I hope this helps.

Tim Deveaux

void CTestDirDlg::OnButton1()
{
// TODO: Add your control notification handler code here

STARTUPINFO             startInfo;
PROCESS\_INFORMATION     procInfo;

startInfo.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
startInfo.lpReserved = NULL;
startInfo.lpTitle = NULL;
startInfo.lpDesktop = NULL;
startInfo.dwX = startInfo.dwY = startInfo.dwYSize = startInfo.dwXSize = 0;

// the interesting stuff!
startInfo.dwFlags = STARTF\_USESHOWWINDOW;
startInfo.hStdInput   = NULL;
startInfo.hStdOutput  = NULL;
startInfo.hStdError   = NULL;

startInfo.wShowWindow = SW\_SHOW;
startInfo.lpReserved2 = NULL;
startInfo.cbReserved2 = NULL;


// Create the process...
if (!CreateProcess (    NULL,   // app name
                        "c:\\\\command.com /k dir",                                
                        NULL,   // proc sec attr
                        NULL,   // thread sec attr
                        FALSE,   // inherit handles
                        NORMAL\_PRIORITY\_CLASS,  // creation flags omitted
                        NULL,   // p 2 new env block
                        NULL,   // current dir name
                        &startInfo,   // our startup info
                        &procInfo     // info returned for proc
                        ))
{
    int err = GetLastError();
    // etc...
}

}

You can play with this a bit - the next thing to add is the mechanism for passing the stdin, out, and error handles so that you can get the results...

Mike Dunn

#include <stdlib.h> system("dir C:\\windows"); Bam, there ya go.