How to launch a program but not wait for it to exit in msbuild

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MSBuild exec task without blocking

In MSBuild I need to launch a process (vsperfcmd) but not wait around for it to finish since it blocks indefinitely until a shutdown command is called from elsewhere. I'm currently launching it with the exec task:

<exec command="vsperfcmd /start:coverage /output:test.coverage" />

I've tried using "start" but I get the same blocking issue

<exec command="start vsperfcmd /start:coverage /output:test.coverage" />

Strangely the same command does not block if entered at the command line.

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 24 '11 at 16:24

1

Perhaps you could try putting the command in a DOS batch file and invoking the batch file instead. Not very elegant but might do the trick. If that doesn't work then call a batch file which calls another to do the work. e.g.

mycommand1.bat:

mycommand2.bat

mycommand2.bat:

vsperfcmd /start:coverage /output:test.coverage

mycommand1 will NOT wait for the mycommand2 to complete before continuing (unless you used CALL mycommand2).

edited May 24 '11 at 16:24

abatishchev

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answered May 24 '11 at 16:14

Mark D Jackson

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sadly this doesn't work, even with two layers of batch file. – Mark Heath May 24 '11 at 16:32
You could also try creating a custom build task (LaunchWithoutWait) in c# (or your preferred .NET language) which just runs the process without waiting. – Mark D Jackson May 24 '11 at 17:53
yes, that's my next plan – Mark Heath May 24 '11 at 19:35

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered May 24 '11 at 19:39

Try something like this in your exec task, which runs explorer and then returns immediately,

<Target Name="Build">
  <Message Text="Before" />
  <Exec Command="start $(COMSPEC) /k &quot;$(WINDIR)\explorer.exe &amp; exit&quot;" />
  <Message Text="After" />
</Target>

Since the command you are executing has arguments, you may need to experiment with getting that command properly enclosed in quotes. Take a look at the "help cmd" /S option.

How to launch a program but not wait for it to exit in msbuild

2 Answers2