How to properly use the Run function? Helpfile doesn't clarify.

[miketh2005]

Hello, I'm trying to use the Run function, but the helpfile doesn't clarify how to use the "workingdir" parameter.

I'm trying to do:

Run("Soldat.exe", "C:/Soldat")

But it doesn't work, even though I have Soldat.exe in the directory "C:/Soldat".

[Hawkwing]

Why not just do

Run("C:\Soldat\Soldat.exe")

Or, as it is in the other post on this exact same topic

Run($var & "Soldat.exe")

Edited August 18, 2009 by Hawkwing

[somdcomputerguy]

Try

Run("Soldat/Soldat.exe", "C:/Soldat")

[miketh2005]

Why not just do

Run("C:\Soldat\Soldat.exe")

That works! Thanks! Why didn't they say that in the helpfile? :/

[Richard Robertson]

It does. The first parameter is the path to the executable. That's as explicit as it gets.

[miketh2005]

It does. The first parameter is the path to the executable. That's as explicit as it gets.

It would be good is that's what it actually said in the helpfile, but it does not. It says:

Parameter Description

filename The name of the executable (EXE, BAT, COM, or PIF) to run.

workingdir [optional] The working directory.

It says the filename, not the path to the filename.

[BrettF]

Search would have received even more results...

[Richard Robertson]

I have submitted a ticket to the trac requesting a documentation change. #1139

[miketh2005]

Search would have received even more results...

I'm sorry. I always forget that ;/ thanks for reminding me. Thanks richard for submitting that ticket.

[trancexx]

I'm just reading v3.3.1.1 (beta) help file and this is fixed there.

Ticket is redundant.

[JSThePatriot]

Hello, I'm trying to use the Run function, but the helpfile doesn't clarify how to use the "workingdir" parameter.

I'm trying to do:

Run("Soldat.exe", "C:/Soldat")

But it doesn't work, even though I have Soldat.exe in the directory "C:/Soldat".

Just so you know you had this exactly right, except the problem you are experiencing is the wrong direction for a directory slash \ = operating system directory where as / = web application directory.

Try the following (even though you have working code)

Run("Soldat.exe", "C:\Soldat")

Let me know if that works for you.

Jarvis

[miketh2005]

Just so you know you had this exactly right, except the problem you are experiencing is the wrong direction for a directory slash \ = operating system directory where as / = web application directory.

Try the following (even though you have working code)

Run("Soldat.exe", "C:\Soldat")

Let me know if that works for you.

Jarvis

Nope, doesn't work.

[BrettF]

It would only work if the .exe was in the script folder...

[JSThePatriot]

Nope, doesn't work.

It works for me...read below for details.

It would only work if the .exe was in the script folder...

Incorrect. That's what the working directory is for (changes run location).

Edit01: BrettF your statement would only be true with the following code as that would imply the run directory is the working directory.

Run("Soldat.exe")

Please perform the following steps to confirm what I have done.

• Create Folder "Soldat" on the C:\ Drive
• Create a script as follows...(Soldat.au3)

  MsgBox(0, "Test", "Success!")

• Compile that script as Soldat.exe
• Place that script in C:\Soldat\ directory
• Write another script in C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\Personal\AutoIt\SoldatTest.au3

  Run("Soldat.exe", "C:\Soldat")

• Compile that script as SoldatTest.exe
• Run it from the AutoIt folder.

Result: Message box showing "Success!" is popped up. My working directory is as stated above.

If anyone can produce different results let me know.

Thanks,

Jarvis

Edited August 21, 2009 by JSThePatriot

[Richard Robertson]

I'm just reading v3.3.1.1 (beta) help file and this is fixed there.

Ticket is redundant.

Whoops. I checked the online copy of the help documents, so I didn't know about that.

It works for me...read below for details.

Incorrect. That's what the working directory is for (changes run location).

Edit01: BrettF your statement would only be true with the following code as that would imply the run directory is the working directory.

Run("Soldat.exe")

Please perform the following steps to confirm what I have done.

• Create Folder "Soldat" on the C:\ Drive
• Create a script as follows...(Soldat.au3)

  MsgBox(0, "Test", "Success!")

• Compile that script as Soldat.exe
• Place that script in C:\Soldat\ directory
• Write another script in C:\Documents and Settings\Username\My Documents\Personal\AutoIt\SoldatTest.au3

  Run("Soldat.exe", "C:\Soldat")

• Compile that script as SoldatTest.exe
• Run it from the AutoIt folder.

Result: Message box showing "Success!" is popped up. My working directory is as stated above.

If anyone can produce different results let me know.

Thanks,

Jarvis

I'm surprised that works. The working directory has nothing to do with the list of directories used to find an executable.

[BrettF]

Wow, that is surprising.

[Richard Robertson]

My guess is that AutoIt will now set the working directory and then run the application, in that order.

[Scriptonize]

I've always thought that the working folder doesn't need to be the same as the exe folder. >_<

The exe can be in c:\program files\myprog\myprog.exe

Myprog.exe can have a file open in c:\test.

Isn't (in my example) the working folder c:\test ?

[Richard Robertson]

Yes that's partially true. The working directory and the executing directory do not have to be the same.

[JSThePatriot]

Well I am happy I could surprise! >_<

I know that Soldat.exe isn't in the %PATH% environment variable, and because it's outside my running directory, I had to specify the working directory so AutoIt would know where to find it.

Regards,

Jarvis