How to set windows forms application useshellexecute to true?

Question

My question is not answered by the question When do we need to set UseShellExecute to True? If you think it is, please explain how?

I need to set the useshellexecute to true for my windows form application project before the application process start, but I can not find where in the project I have to make the change?

It's a windows form application project in visual studio 2015.

The main entry point for the application looks like this:

[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
    Application.EnableVisualStyles();
    Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
    Application.Run(new MainForm());
}

Where should I use ProcessStartInfo and specify UseShellExecute value?

EDIT: Big thank you to Matthew Watson who suggested I change the Environment CurrentDirectory which solved the issue! I will mark your anser as the correct one if you post it as an answer!

"_…I need to set the useshellexecute to true for my windows form application…_" — That makes absolutely no sense to me. — Uwe Keim, Apr 19 '16 at 11:40
When launching my application from it's folder, the working directory path is the folder I launched it from. But when I execute it from a shortcut somewhere the working directory path changes to System32. I googled and found I need to change useshellexecute to true but can not find where / how to change it? — user5825579, Apr 19 '16 at 11:45
If you look at the properties for the shortcut for your application, it has a "Start in" settings. I'm guessing that is either empty or pointing to the wrong folder. It should specify the folder that contains your exe. — Matthew Watson, Apr 19 '16 at 11:50
How about simply [changing your working directory](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1590097/how-do-i-get-set-a-winforms-applications-working-directory)? — Uwe Keim, Apr 19 '16 at 11:54
You could also try putting this at the start of your program: `Environment.CurrentDirectory = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory;` — Matthew Watson, Apr 19 '16 at 11:55
@Matthew Watson who suggested I change the Environment CurrentDirectory which solved the issue! I will mark your anser as the correct one if you post it as an answer! — user5825579, Apr 19 '16 at 12:02

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 19 '16 at 11:26

0

You could use ProcessStartInfo and specify UseShellExecute value.

ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("exepath");
startInfo.Arguments = args; //argument
startInfo.UseShellExecute = true;

Process.Start(startInfo);

answered Apr 19 '16 at 11:26

Hari Prasad

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score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 19 '16 at 12:32

You could try putting this at the start of your program:

Environment.CurrentDirectory = AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory;

That will ensure that your program's current working directory (CWD) is always set to the same folder as the executable when your program starts up.

I suspect what's happening is that the shortcut you're using has a missing or incorrect folder for its "Start in" property. Fixing that would be another approach (right-click the shortcut, select Properties and then the Shortcut tab, and enter the correct folder in the Start in section.)

How to set windows forms application useshellexecute to true?

2 Answers2