SAMPLE: Launching One Application for Windows from Another

 Last reviewed: February 15, 1996
Article ID: Q97331
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows version 3.1

SUMMARY

APPEXEC is a technical note in the Microsoft Software Library that discusses launching Windows-based applications from other applications for Windows. APPEXEC is a Windows Help file.

Download APPEXEC.EXE, a self-extracting file, from the Microsoft Software Library (MSL) on the following services:

  • Microsoft Download Service (MSDL) 

          Dial (206) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
      Download APPEXEC.EXE (size: 26528 bytes)
  • Internet (anonymous FTP) 

          ftp ftp.microsoft.com
      Change to the \SOFTLIB\MSLFILES directory
      Get APPEXEC.EXE (size: 26528 bytes)

MORE INFORMATION

Abstract

An application for Microsoft Windows often needs to be launched from another Windows-based application. In addition to starting a second application, sometimes the primary application needs to know when the second application terminates.

This technical article discusses the following points:

  • Several ways to start applications
  • An approach to finding applications not located on the current Windows search path
  • A method for detecting whether an application is still running
  • Using the same Windows-based techniques for starting applications for MS-DOS

APPEXEC, the sample application provided with this article, contains code that solves the problems involved in finding and starting one Windows-based application from another, as well as determining later whether that application is still running.

Additional reference words: 3.10 softlib APPEXEC.EXE
KBCategory: kbprg kbfile
KBSubcategory: KrTsksIns

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: February 15, 1996
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.