Starting a batch file in C# and then waiting for it to exit before continuing

Question

The problem is that the WaitForExit does not wait until the batch file quits. It comes back almost right away.

I'm starting my batch file as follows:

            ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(batchFile);
            startInfo.UseShellExecute = true;
            startInfo.Arguments = arguments;

            using (Process p = Process.Start(startInfo))
            {
                p.WaitForExit();
            }

I tried with and without UseShellExecute.

[This answer](http://stackoverflow.com/a/7101534/16623) may help. — Michael Todd, Oct 08 '13 at 19:04
if WaitForExit() dosen't work try to follow [this](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.process.exited.aspx) — Tinwor, Oct 08 '13 at 19:11
That didn't work either. It must be something unique about this batch file. The batch file calls other processes, but does wait until they all quit before it returns. — 101010, Oct 08 '13 at 19:38

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 08 '13 at 21:35

1

You could try running cmd with a "/c yourbatchfile" as command line arguments instead.

answered Oct 08 '13 at 21:35

mageos

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score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:28

It seems that you can do it redirecting the StdOut and read it until it closes.

Took this idea from this similar question.

Adapting your snippet, that would be:

ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(batchFile);
//startInfo.UseShellExecute = true;
startInfo.Arguments = arguments;
startInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;

Process p = Process.Start(startInfo);
String output = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();

Starting a batch file in C# and then waiting for it to exit before continuing

2 Answers2