Launching an exe

[kanupriya]

Hi All,

I am trying to launch an exe from JAVA using
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(exeLocation);

This launches the exe but the problem is when I double click on the exe, it opens a command prompt as a console, which gets minimized on the taskbar.

I am not able to get this command prompt when launching the exe from the code.

Please help.

[goldest]

What is the executable that you are launching?

Can you provide some more code? The details provided by you are not sufficient.

Goldest

[doWhile]

Do you want to retrieve the output from the exe or communicate in some way? Get the InputStream/OutputStream from the Process and read/write as needed.

[kanupriya]

The exe that i am trying to launch is an application made in Visual Studio & the command prompt that it shows on double click is nothing but a console.

However, I am unable to see this console/command prompt on launching the exe through the java code.

Code snippet :

String s;
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(exelocation);
BufferedReader inputReader =new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
while ((s = inputReader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(s);
}
input.close();

[goldest]

Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(exelocation);

What is the exelocation above? Are you providing the correct full path, including the extension?

Goldest

[Fubarable]

Have you seen probably one of the most referenced Java links on potential problems and solutions when using runtime exec? When Runtime.exec() won't

[kanupriya]

Yes, I am providing the correct path with the extension. That's why I am able to launch the exe.

The problem is not with launching the exe, it is about showing the console (a command prompt) attached with it. Currently, it is not showing.

[goldest]

Yes, I am providing the correct path with the extension. That's why I am able to launch the exe.

The problem is not with launching the exe, it is about showing the console (a command prompt) attached with it. Currently, it is not showing.

What usually happens when you manually open your exe file? Does it opens that console in the first place, which you are talking about? If yes, then it should happen the same way through java.

Do you need to click somewhere or pass any commands to have that console appear? If that's the case then you have to make sure that you are passing all those supplementary things through your code as well.

It would be nice if you can put your whole code instead of bunches.

Goldest

[kanupriya]

What usually happens when you manually open your exe file? Does it opens that console in the first place, which you are talking about? If yes, then it should happen the same way through java.

Do you need to click somewhere or pass any commands to have that console appear? If that's the case then you have to make sure that you are passing all those supplementary things through your code as well.

It would be nice if you can put your whole code instead of bunches.

Goldest

When I manually open the exe (double clicking on the shortcut), the console opens.

public class Process {
public static void main(String args[]) {
String s;
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(exelocation);
BufferedReader inputReader =new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
while ((s = inputReader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(s);
}
inputReader.close();
}
}


On running the main class, the application launches w/o the console.

[goldest]

public class Process {

This seems more of a naming conflict. We already have the Process class in the java.lang package. This might spoil the things.

Can you simply change your public class name to something else than Process ? Make it Process1 or something and re-run the program.

See what happens?

Goldest

[kanupriya]

This seems more of a naming conflict. We already have the Process class in the java.lang package. This might spoil the things.

Can you simply change your public class name to something else than Process ? Make it Process1 or something and re-run the program.

See what happens?

Goldest

No change. It still doesnot show a console.

[goldest]

No change. It still doesnot show a console.

Can you post the full new code? Because even in your previous code, you are neither handling the exceptions nor throwing them from your main method.

The compiler should ask you to handle the exception that might arise when you try to use the readLine().

Goldest

[kanupriya]

public class TestExe {
public static void main(String args[]) throws InterruptedException,IOException {
String s;
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(exelocation);
BufferedReader inputReader =new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
while ((s = inputReader.readLine()) != null) {
System.out.println(s);
}
inputReader.close();
}
}

[goldest]

I am assuming that you have used the import statements correctly. In the same code given by you, I just placed the path to one of my executable, like,

Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("C:/Program Files/Internet Explorer/iexplore.exe");

When I ran this, it just worked fine. It opened the internet explorer for me. I wonder how you are getting issues in launching your exe file.

What is the path you are providing for "exelocation"? Could you please post it here? In fact your code never declared this String or passed it to the exec method. From where are you passing this?

Goldest

[kanupriya]

I do not have a problem in launching the exe.

The problem is that the application that I am launching has a console which doesn't show when I execute/launch it using :

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(<some exe location>);

[goldest]

It shouldn't happen basically. If this is the only exe file that is responsible for launching your application, then it should come along with all the features.

Make sure that your application is not having any inter dependencies other than this executable.

Goldest

[JosAH]

When the OS starts a process is attaches three streams to it: stdin, stdout and stderr. The default streams form a 'console' or 'terminal'. When no streams are supplied the OS uses the default Streams. The ProcessBuilder supplies those three Streams because the parent process must be able to read from the process and write to it; that's why no console starts up.

kind regards,

Jos

[kanupriya]

The ProcessBuilder supplies those three Streams because the parent process must be able to read from the process and write to it; that's why no console starts up.

How can I get the console then? Is there a way to start it?

Thanks
Kanupriya

[JosAH]

How can I get the console then? Is there a way to start it?

Sure, just start it but you won't see its window because the Streams are supplied by your Java program. On Unix/Linux one can start a shell in 'interactive' mode by supplying a flag. I don't know if that feature exists in MS Windows. Consult the (online) manual for the cmd.exe program.

kind regards,

Jos

ps. or even nicer: write your own terminal program. It can be done without too many problems.

[kanupriya]

Hi everyone,

I just came to know that the exe, I'm trying to execute, is a console application.
Do I need to pass any arguments to Runtime.getRuntime().exec for the console to show??