Run

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Run

Hands control to another program and ends this one; returns -1 if it cannot start.

Syntax

Declare Function Run ( ByRef program As Const String, ByRef arguments As Const String = "" ) As Long

Parameters

• program
• arguments

Description

Transfers control over to an external program. When the program exits, execution will return to the system.

Return Value

Returns negative one (-1) if the program could not be executed.

Remarks

Usage

result = Run( program [, arguments ] )

Platform Differences

• Linux requires the program case matches the real name of the file. Windows, DOS and a default macOS volume are case insensitive. The program being run may be case sensitive for its command line parameters. Path separators in Linux and macOS are forward slashes ("/"). Windows uses backward slashes ("\") although some versions of Windows allow forward slashes. DOS uses backward slashes.

Differences from QB

• Run needs the full executable name, including extension (.exe) on platforms that have one (Win32, DOS).
• Returning an error code is new to FreeBASIC.

See also

• Exec transfer temporarily, with arguments
• Chain transfer temporarily, without arguments
• Command pick arguments

Examples

'' Attempt to transfer control to "program.exe" in the current directory.

Dim result As Integer = Run("program.exe")

'' at this point, "program.exe" has failed to execute, and

'' result will be set to -1.

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Category: Operating System Functions
Kind: function

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Reproduced from the FreeBASIC Wiki Manual under the GNU Free Documentation License 1.3 — with no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts and no Back-Cover Texts. Copyright © the FreeBASIC project and wiki contributors. See License.