ShellExecute and file output

[fdmaxey]

I currently start a target executable written in VB.Net from an
application that uses a C-script language.

I start the target executable using ShellExecute in the C-script. The
target runs fine like this except for the fact that the target can't
write to a log file. If I run the target independently of the C-script
application, the log file is created and written to without a hitch.

There is no error produced - the log file just never appears. If I put
a log file in the directory, it is not appended.


The code is as follows:

Dim tx as TextWriter = File.AppendText("Log.txt")

tx.WriteLine( sLogText )

tx.Close


The ShellExecute command is:

result = ShellExecute(
HWND_DESKTOP, "open", "target.exe", "-1", NULL,
SW_SHOWNORMAL);


I get the impression I'm missing something simple here, but I don't know
what it is.

TIA

Frank Maxey

 

[Herfried K. Wagner [MVP]]

I start the target executable using ShellExecute in the C-script. The
target runs fine like this except for the fact that the target can't
write to a log file. If I run the target independently of the C-script
application, the log file is created and written to without a hitch.

There is no error produced - the log file just never appears. If I put
a log file in the directory, it is not appended.
[...]
Dim tx as TextWriter = File.AppendText("Log.txt")
[...]
result = ShellExecute(
HWND_DESKTOP, "open", "target.exe", "-1", NULL,
SW_SHOWNORMAL);

Try passing the working directory (e.g., the application's directory)
instead of passing 'NULL' in the 'lpDirectory' parameter.

 

[Mattias Sjögren]

Dim tx as TextWriter = File.AppendText("Log.txt")

Since you're using a relative file path the file will opened from the
current directory, which may differ depending on how you run the
application. Make sure Environment.CurrentDirectory is what you expect
it to be.



Mattias

 

[fdmaxey]

That was the problem. Thanks.

Frank Maxey