command line - Windows batch-file that continues after launching each program

windows command-line batch

06
2013-12

Sandy

I'm trying to create a very simple Windows-XP batch file:

Program1.exe
Sleep 3
Program2.exe
Sleep 5
Program3.exe
Sleep 11

Of course, I don't want to have to exit each program, before the next one starts. The default for batch files seems to be "stop until the previous program exists".

The three executables listed above are program like Notepad: They open and run and don't just "open, run, close".

How do I get this script to run as expected?

Answers

csrowell

Another suggestion: If you are putting your program in quotes because there are spaces in the path to the exe, you need to do this:

start "" "C:\myPath\myApp.exe"

Found it here: Run Windows application from Command Prompt

vcsjones

Use the Start command. Change your batch to this:

Start Program1.exe
Sleep 3
Start Program2.exe
Sleep 5
Start Program3.exe
Sleep 11

snowdude

Try using JScript instead. Create a file called run_programs.js that looks something like this:

var objShell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");

objShell.run( "Program1.exe",  1, false);
objShell.run( "Program2.exe",  1, false);
objShell.run( "Program3.exe",  1, false);

Then change your batch file to simply execute the script, e.g.

cscript //I //E:Jscript run_programs.js

Related Answers

admintech

Try

start /d "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird" thunderbird.exe

David Spillett

As Systech suggests, the start command is what you are looking for to run the program and not wait for it to terminate before continuing.

The reason you see different behaviour when Thunderbird is already running is that it is only allowing one copy to run. The second copy detects the first and gives it focus before going away (so effectively immediately returning control to your batch script). If you were calling an application that allows multiple instances of itself to run (something as simple as notepad would do if you want to test this to see for yourself) you would not see that difference in behaviour.

ChrisF

The reason the script stalls is because it's waiting for Thunderbird to complete and return control to the batch file.

You need to use the "/d" option as Systech suggests.

daddy-o

FWIW this doesn't work properly in windows7. Even with start /b, Thunderbird terminates when the controlling shell window terminates.

That said, once you've got T'bird running, you can open other subwindows properly (e.g., thunderbird -addressbook) from the command line.

daddy-o

So, if you want to run T'bird from a windows command line or batch file, I've figured out how to do it. As you probably have noticed, using the start command with any combination of parameters doesn't do what you really want.

The first step is to create a Windows Scripting Host command file. Put this in the same directory as your T'bird executable, can call it something like tbird.wsf:

<job>
<script language="VBScript">
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
cmds=WshShell.RUN("cmd /c thunderbird.exe", 0, False)
</script>
</job>

once you have that file, then invoke it from command line or batch file like this:

cscript tbird.wsf

Of course, this will leave an extra process hanging around your system that won't die until you close T'bird down. But this does achieve what I think lots of people want.

davodavo -- check me out on www.saleslogistix.com

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command line - Windows batch-file that continues after launching each program