How do I open an .exe from another C++ .exe?

Question

What I want to do is open an .exe from another .exe. I really don't know how to do this, so I searched the internet. I tried some suggested methods from the internet, but it didn't work.

Here's my code:

#include <iostream>
#include <windows.h>
using namespace std;

int main()
{
    system ("OpenFile.exe");
    system ("pause");
    return 0;
}

When I run it in DEV C++, it compiles, but I get a error. Can someone please help me?

Answer 1

You should always avoid using system() because

• It is resource heavy
• It defeats security -- you don't know you it's a valid command or does the same thing on every system, you could even start up programs you didn't intend to start up. The danger is that when you directly execute a program, it gets the same privileges as your program -- meaning that if, for example, you are running as system administrator then the malicious program you just inadvertently executed is also running as system administrator. If that doesn't scare you silly, check your pulse.
• Anti virus programs hate it, your program could get flagged as a virus.

You should use CreateProcess().

You can use Createprocess() to just start up an .exe and creating a new process for it. The application will run independent from the calling application.

Here's an example I used in one of my projects:

#include <windows.h>

VOID startup(LPCTSTR lpApplicationName)
{
   // additional information
   STARTUPINFO si;     
   PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;

   // set the size of the structures
   ZeroMemory( &si, sizeof(si) );
   si.cb = sizeof(si);
   ZeroMemory( &pi, sizeof(pi) );

  // start the program up
  CreateProcess( lpApplicationName,   // the path
    argv[1],        // Command line
    NULL,           // Process handle not inheritable
    NULL,           // Thread handle not inheritable
    FALSE,          // Set handle inheritance to FALSE
    0,              // No creation flags
    NULL,           // Use parent's environment block
    NULL,           // Use parent's starting directory 
    &si,            // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure
    &pi             // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure (removed extra parentheses)
    );
    // Close process and thread handles. 
    CloseHandle( pi.hProcess );
    CloseHandle( pi.hThread );
}

EDIT: The error you are getting is because you need to specify the path of the .exe file not just the name. Openfile.exe probably doesn't exist.

Answer 2

I've had great success with this:

#include <iostream>
#include <windows.h>

int main() {
    ShellExecute(NULL, "open", "path\\to\\file.exe", NULL, NULL, SW_SHOWDEFAULT);
}

If you're interested, the full documentation is here:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb762153(VS.85).aspx.

Answer 3

Try this:

#include <windows.h>

int main ()

{
    system ("start notepad.exe") // As an example. Change [notepad] to any executable file //

    return 0 ;
}

Answer 4

When executable path has whitespace in system, call

#include<iostream>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
    system("explorer C:\\Program Files\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\chrome.exe ");
    system("pause");
return 0;
}

Answer 5

Provide the full path of the file openfile.exe and remember not to put forward slash / in the path such as c:/users/username/etc.... instead of that use c:\\Users\\username\etc (for windows)

May be this will help you.

Answer 6

You are getting this error because you are not giving full path. (C:\Users...\file.exe) If you want to remove this error then either give full path or copy that application (you want to open) to the folder where your project(.exe) is present/saved.

#include <windows.h>
using namespace std;
int main()
{
  system ("start C:\\Users\\Folder\\chrome.exe https://www.stackoverflow.com"); //for opening stackoverflow through google chrome , if chorme.exe is in that folder..
  return 0;
}

Answer 7

I know this is a bit late but this is to help all the new the c++ devs.

Basically I found that if you set the file path to the location then call the program you can bypass the error.

        cout << "Opening Firefox";
        system("cd C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox");
        Sleep(1000);
        system("start firefox.exe -P");

As you can see I set the file path to the location of Firefox then launch it. In my case I'm launching the Profile manager of Firefox, if you want to launch just Firefox remove the -P. I also put in a Sleep() to give my computer time to switch file paths. if you want to go back to the default file path use, system(cd C:\\Windows\\System32);. I made this by replicating commands in the command line for windows, though you would use Linux specific commands + file paths if that is what you are using.