How to write a launching program in C++ or C# for Windows Vista

Question

How do I write a program in C++ or C# that launches applications on Windows Vista?

For example launching Dreamweaver CS 4 ("C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\Dreamweaver.exe) and place it on top with the BringWindowToTop-function?

Answer 1

In c#

Process.Start("c:\whatever\somefile.exe", <commandline args>);

should do it

Answer 2

In C/C++ there are plenty ways to do that.

system("c:\whatever\somefile.exe");

should fire up the program whatever you want.

Answer 3

Use CreateProcess function. Or see here an example.

Answer 4

using System; using System.Diagnostics;

namespace Launcher
{
  public static class Program
  {
    public static void Main(string[] args)
    {
      ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();

      startInfo.FileName = args[0];
      startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Normal;

      Process.Start(startInfo);
    }
  }
}

Answer 5

Install linux and vim...sorry ;)

Answer 6

The main problem that you'll have is finding out which new window belongs to the just-created process. A simple solution would be to EnumWindows() before and after, and then raise the newly created top-level window. Since your launcher presumably has the focus, it can give that focus to the new window.

Answer 7

Not C++ or C# but, using AutoIt, you can launch the program and either automate the click you make or bring to top the DW4 window, for example (not tested):

AutoItSetOption("WinTitleMatchMode", 2)
Run("C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Dreamweaver CS4\Dreamweaver.exe", "", @SW_MAXIMIZE)
WinSetOnTop("Dreamweaver", "", 1)

and once the script suits your need there's a tool to convert it to an exe (Aut2Exe). Hope that helps :)

Answer 8

I think following should be the simple most way to do that.

ShellExecute(NULL,_T(""), _T("C:\\windows\\notepad.exe"), _T(""), NULL, SW_SHOWMAXIMIZED);

In place of using notepad.exe, you may use runas command.
Refer this link for more details on runas command.

Answer 9

To launch the program use: Process.Start.

To find the path of the exe file, you may have a look at the registry.

I would recommend to manually search in the registry the actual path of the exe in you computer, and this way try to see where the path is saved.

To bring to window to the front, you can use SetForegroundWindow(int hWnd) as well as FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName), as mentioned here:

http://www.dotnetspider.com/resources/5772-Bring-e-window-Front-set-It-Active-window.aspx

Hopes it helps.

Answer 10

See this Stack Overflow question.