Browse - Programming Tips - How can I run a command with no window (DOS box) and wait for the result?

Date: 2016apr4
OS: Windows
Language: C/C++
Keywords: command prompt

Q.  How can I run a command with no window (DOS box) and wait for the result?

A.  Use this:

BOOL ExecCommandAndWait(LPCSTR szCmdLine)
{
	STARTUPINFO			si;
	PROCESS_INFORMATION	pi;
	BOOL				bResult;
	DWORD				dwExitCode;

	ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(STARTUPINFO));
	si.cb = sizeof(STARTUPINFO);
	si.dwFlags = STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW;
	si.wShowWindow = SW_HIDE;

	ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(PROCESS_INFORMATION));

	bResult = CreateProcess(
	NULL, // pointer to name of executable module - NULL means find the first space-delimited word.
	(LPSTR)szCmdLine,  // pointer to command line string
	NULL,	// pointer to process security attributes
	NULL,	// pointer to thread security attributes
	FALSE,	// Don't inherit handles
	NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS | CREATE_NO_WINDOW,		// Creation flags
	NULL,	// pointer to new environment block
	NULL,	// pointer to current directory name
	&si,	// pointer to STARTUPINFO
	&pi		// pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION
	);

	if (!bResult)
	{
		DWORD dwError = GetLastError();
		printf("Could not run: %s\n", szCmdLine);
		printf("Error: %d\n", dwError);
		return bResult;
	}

	WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
	bResult = GetExitCodeProcess(pi.hProcess, &dwExitCode);
	CloseHandle(pi.hProcess); // Cleanup
	CloseHandle(pi.hThread); // Cleanup

	return bResult;
}

You can not use system() since it will show a DOS box.
You can not use WinExec() since it doesn't wait.