Execute an EXE file using Node.js

Question

I don't know how to execute an EXE file in Node.js. Here is the code I am using. It is not working and doesn't print anything. Is there any possible way to execute an EXE file using the command line?

var fun = function() {
  console.log("rrrr");
  exec('CALL hai.exe', function(err, data) {

    console.log(err)
    console.log(data.toString());
  });
}
fun();

Answer 1

You can try the execFile function of the child process modules in Node.js.

Reference: child_process.execFile(file[, args][, options][, callback])

Your code should look something like:

var exec = require('child_process').execFile;

var fun =function(){
   console.log("fun() start");
   exec('HelloJithin.exe', function(err, data) {
        console.log(err)
        console.log(data.toString());
    });
}
fun();

Answer 2

If the exe that you want to execute is in some other directory, and your exe has some dependencies to the folder it resides then, try setting the cwd parameter in options

var exec = require('child_process').execFile;
/**
 * Function to execute exe
 * @param {string} fileName The name of the executable file to run.
 * @param {string[]} params List of string arguments.
 * @param {string} path Current working directory of the child process.
 */
function execute(fileName, params, path) {
    let promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
        exec(fileName, params, { cwd: path }, (err, data) => {
            if (err) reject(err);
            else resolve(data);
        });

    });
    return promise;
}

Docs

Answer 3

If you are using Node.js or any front-end framework that supports Node.js (React or Vue.js)

const { execFile } = require('child_process');

const child = execFile('chrome.exe', [], (error, stdout, stderr) => {
  if (error) {
    throw error;
  }
  console.log(stdout);
});

If the .exe file is located somewhere in the machine, replace chrome.exe with the path to the application you want to execute e.g "C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"

const child = execFile('C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe', [], (error, stdout, stderr) => {
  if (error) {
    throw error;
  }
  console.log(stdout);
});

Answer 4

Did you ever think about using Batch file in this process? I mean start a .bat file using Node.js which will start an .exe file at the same time?

Just using answers in the top, I got this:

1. Creating a .bat file in exe file's directory

2. Type in bat file START <full file name like E:\\Your folder\\Your file.exe>

3. Type in your .js file: const shell = require('shelljs') shell.exec('E:\\Your folder\\Your bat file.bat')

Answer 5

I have tried this. It works.

const { exec } = require('child_process');

// Replace 'path/to/your/file.exe' with the actual path to your .exe file
const filePath = 'path/to/your/file.exe';

// Execute the .exe file
exec(filePath, (error, stdout, stderr) => {
  if (error) {
    console.error(`Error executing the .exe file: ${error}`);
    return;
  }

  // Process the output or error messages if needed
  if (stdout) {
    console.log(`Standard output: ${stdout}`);
  }

  if (stderr) {
    console.error(`Standard error: ${stderr}`);
  }
});