• *LOCALE_GET Function
• a5_close_system_toolbars Function
• A5_OS_INFO Function
• A5_RESOURCE_INFO Function
• a5_system_function_debug Function
• a5_system_short_time_formatter Function
• a5_system_time_formatter Function
• a5_system_toolbar_editor Function
• a5_toggle_setting Function
• API_GETDOMAINNAME Function
• API_GETENVIRONMENTVAR Function
• API_GETMACHINENAME Function
• API_GETUSERNAME Function
• API_UUIDCREATE Function
• API_UUIDSEQCREATE Function
• DISKSPACE Function
• PROCESS_LIST Function
• Run Function
• SYS_EDIT Function
• SYS_EVENT_LOG Function
• SYS_EVENT_LOG_DUMP Function
• SYS_EXPLORE Function
• SYS_FOCUS_PUT Function
• sys_is_foreground Function
• SYS_KEY_DOWN Function
• sys_key_modifiers Function
• SYS_KEYS_ENUM Function
• SYS_METRIC_GET Function
• SYS_OPEN Function
• SYS_PRINT Function
• SYS_PROPERTIES Function
• SYS_SEND_KEYS Function
• SYS_SHELL Function
• sys_shell_result Function
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT Function
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT_RESULT Function
• sys_window_caret Function
• sys_window_movesize Function
• system_event_add Function
• system_event_invoke Function
• system_event_invoke_query Function
• system_variables Function
• systemfonts_apply Function
• UI_INFO Function
• WIN_1394_INFO Function
• WIN_ACCOUNTS Function
• WIN_BATTERY_INFO Function
• WIN_BIOS_INFO Function
• WIN_CREATE_SHORTCUT Function
• WIN_DISK_INFO Function
• WIN_MEMORY_INFO Function
• WIN_MOTHERBOARD Function
• WIN_SERVICES Function
• WIN_SPECIAL_FOLDER Function

SYS_SHELL Function

Syntax

Arguments

command_lineCharacter

The program to run as well as any additional arguments for the program. Arguments used by the program are separated by space characters:

program_name [argument1 ... argumentN]

window_styleNumeric

Optional. Default = 2. Determines the mode of the window in which the application runs. The Window_Mode options are:

Window Mode

Description

1

Normal

2

Minimized

3

Maximized

Returns

hwndNumeric

Returns the hwnd of the program that was run.

Description

Run a program, returning the hwnd of the program run.

Discussion

The SYS_SHELL() function executes the specified Windows program (program_name). Your Xbasic code continues to run, without waiting for the SYS_SHELL() command to finish. The optional Window_Mode parameter is a number that determines the mode of the window in which the application runs. If you omit this parameter, the window will be minimized by default. Contrast this command with the higher level SYS_OPEN() command, which is equivalent to double clicking on a file in the Windows Explorer.

To cause your Xbasic script to wait for the SYS_SHELL() command to finish, use SYS_SHELL_WAIT().

Example

This script displays the A5.INI file from the windows directory using the Windows Notepad application.

x = sys_shell("c:\windows\notepad.exe c:\windows\a5.ini",1)

This script decodes an alias that contains the path to where the program to run is installed. Assume you have a setting that says: System = C:\WINNT\System32\

sys_shell(filename_decode("[System]Calc.exe"),1)

See Also

• System Functions
• SYS_OPEN()
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT()
• SYS_SHELL_RESULT()
• SYS_SHELL_WAIT_RESULT()
• FILENAME_DECODE()
• run()
• sys_shell_result()
• sys_shell_wait()