Run dialog vs. cmd.exe

[Ray at]

Does anyone know if the Run dialog is set to look in paths to interpret
commands beyond what is defined in %PATH%? The reason I ask is that I can
launch Word or Excel by entering "winword" or "excel" in the Run dialog, but
this does not hold true at the command prompt, since my Office path is not
part of my %PATH% variable. So, it seems that the Run dialog must look at
%PATH% and then also look either in other paths or at a list of other
defined words, such as winword or excel. If this is the case, does anyone
know where this list of words or the additional paths are stored?

Thank you,

 

[Paul R. Sadowski]

defined words, such as winword or excel. If this is the case, does anyone
know where this list of words or the additional paths are stored?

You'll find them here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

You can add your own if you need/want to.

 

[Ray at]

Excellent. Thanks Paul.

Ray at work

You'll find them here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths

You can add your own if you need/want to.

 

[Wadester]

Does anyone know if the Run dialog is set to look in paths to
interpret commands beyond what is defined in %PATH%? The reason I
ask is that I can launch Word or Excel by entering "winword" or
"excel" in the Run dialog, but this does not hold true at the command
prompt, since my Office path is not part of my %PATH% variable. So,
it seems that the Run dialog must look at %PATH% and then also look
either in other paths or at a list of other defined words, such as
winword or excel. If this is the case, does anyone know where this
list of words or the additional paths are stored?

In additional to Ray's post, note that you can also run "start winword"
or "start excel" from the command prompt.

ws

 

[Ray at]

This I will use all the time now. Thank, Wadester.

Ray at work

 

[Matthias Tacke]

:

In additional to Ray's post, note that you can also run "start winword"
or "start excel" from the command prompt.

ws

Or you could

start myfile.xls
start myfile.doc

which opens the files in the app.

 

[Wadester]

Matthias Tacke [[email protected]] posted:

:

Or you could

start myfile.xls
start myfile.doc

which opens the files in the app.

Actually, you don't need the "start" for those commands. Just running
"myfile.xls" should use the default action on that file type, which
opens it in the correct app. I always get a little impatient when I see
people type "notepad readme.txt" when you can just type "readme.txt" and
get the same thing.

You can also type "start http://www.microsoft.com", which starts your
browser pointing at that page.

ws

 

[Al Dunbar [MS-MVP]]

Does anyone know if the Run dialog is set to look in paths to interpret
commands beyond what is defined in %PATH%? The reason I ask is that I can
launch Word or Excel by entering "winword" or "excel" in the Run dialog, but
this does not hold true at the command prompt, since my Office path is not
part of my %PATH% variable. So, it seems that the Run dialog must look at
%PATH% and then also look either in other paths or at a list of other
defined words, such as winword or excel. If this is the case, does anyone
know where this list of words or the additional paths are stored?

Good question. My guess is the registry. I found a number of references
there to winword and other apps that can also be launched from the run
dialog but are not on the path. One likely one was:

hklm/software/classes/applications/app.exe/

The actual path to the executable was not always at the same offset within
that key, however. Quicken's was the default value in shell/open/command,
whereas Winword was at shell/edit/command.


/Al

 

[Torgeir Bakken (MVP)]

Good question. My guess is the registry. I found a number of references
there to winword and other apps that can also be launched from the run
dialog but are not on the path. One likely one was:

hklm/software/classes/applications/app.exe/

This one is the most common one:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\

 

[David Wang [Msft]]

Call me cautious, but I usually first check out the associations to make
sure they are not "hijacked" in any way, and then I use the START or
myfile.xls syntax. It's like making sure your alias file is sane and that
'.' is not in the PATH on *nix...

--
//David
IIS
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
//
Matthias Tacke [[email protected]] posted:

:

Or you could

start myfile.xls
start myfile.doc

which opens the files in the app.

Actually, you don't need the "start" for those commands. Just running
"myfile.xls" should use the default action on that file type, which
opens it in the correct app. I always get a little impatient when I see
people type "notepad readme.txt" when you can just type "readme.txt" and
get the same thing.

You can also type "start http://www.microsoft.com", which starts your
browser pointing at that page.

ws