Hello,
I want to call an executable file from BaaN. How do I do that?
Version - BaaN IV c4.
OS - Windows NT.

You can use the app_start command. Follow this http://www.baanboard.com/programmers_manual_baanerp_help_functions_client_file_access_app_start
link to the Baanboard Wiki.

Mark

|First, load the dll
dll_id = load_dll("${BSE}\tools\ttB40_c\ottdll\odllbw")

|Second, get the function you want from the dll - this one starts an application
func_id = get_function(dll_id, "app_start" )

|Third, execute the function with parameters - this one starts notepad and brings up a file called example.txt
e = exec_function(dll_id, func_id, app_id, "notepad.exe example.txt", "", "", "", "")

Mark,
In the meantime I tried my hands on run.prog(). I am able to execute the exe (wordpad in this case) at the background. But, once the session is over, I can see the exe still running at the background, from the NT Task Manager!!
Now, how do I stop that exe once the session is over!!?

run.prog -> runs on the Baan application server
app_start -> runs on the Baan client (provided the client is BW)

So where do you want to run your app today?;)

Hello,
I do understand the difference between run.prog() and app_start(), but the query is to HOW to stop the exe at the background once the session is over!!?:confused:

Hi morpheus,

I dont think you can control the applications from the BaaN server end to the client end.

But you might invoke the task manager in the Windows, where you can choose the particular application to be killed/end-task.

e = app_start("C:\WINNT\system32>taskmgr", "", "", "", "")

Hope that helps you out.

Hello Rao,
That's what I was thinking of. Will give it a try.
Thanks everybody...

Somewhere along the way I lost whats happening here:
In the meantime I tried my hands on run.prog(). I am able to execute the exe (wordpad in this case) at the background. But, once the session is over, I can see the exe still running at the background, from the NT Task Manager!!
Now, how do I stop that exe once the session is over!!?

If you initiated wordpad using run.prog then it must be running on the server. This is based on Baan documentation :). (I do not have the experience of having tried this with Baan on NT server). At this point starting the task manager using app_start may not be a good idea. This is because run.prog is executing away on the server and task manager is brougt up on the client screen. Nothing to kill here. Unless you are running BW on the Baan server.

Now lets talk about having started the application on the client. This would be similar to having started a windows based editor when editing program scripts. The Baan session can be put in a waiting mode until the editor program stops running. To acheive this use app_status() in a loop.app.id = app_start(...)
while app_status(app.id)
suspend(3000) |wait 3 seconds before checking the next time
endwhile
|go on with the session here
This solution makes the user quit the application before he can close the Baan application. Not automatic, but forces the user.

Hello! Vamsi,
Thanks for the post.
The BW is running on the BaaN application server.

Vamsi,

That was a good tip... it works...!!!

Thanks! :)

Yes the app_start command is the easiest I have found

Hello,
I have a doubt here.
If we run a batch file in the DOS mode, which is calling some exe, then at the end we notice that the exe as well as the batch file terminates once the steps of the batch file are over.
Now, can't we achieve this from BaaN, if we activate that batch file from BaaN!!?:rolleyes:

I have tried

app_start() and is not present on BaaN IV documentation

How can i do it:(

Hello,

use following code:

#pragma used dll "ottdllbw"


start.client.program("excel.exe c:\test.xls", "C:\Programme\Microsoft Office\Office")

(Parameters: Application, Parameter for application,
path of application)

Regards, Alfred:cool:

Im in
Baan IV c4 sp4

and i cant use the functions you have listed:

start.client.application()
app_start()

i cannot see ottdllbw in the session ttadv2131m000 "Mantain Libraries"

Im missing something ?

Thank you

This code is for BaanIV c4. I used it in variouse programs. You cannot see the mentioned standard dll in tools session, but shurely the object code of this dll is in your application path.

sorry, but i forget a few lines to copy in my post...

declaration:
#pragma used dll "ottdllbw"

choice.cont.process:
on.choice:


start.client.program("excel.exe c:\test.xls",
"C:\Programme\Microsoft Office\Office")


functions:
function start.client.program(string command(200),
string ppath(200))
{ long retval, still_running

retval = app_start(strip$(command), strip$(ppath), "", "", "")
still_running = app_status(retval)

while still_running <> 0
still_running = app_status(retval)
suspend(300)
endwhile
}

Im answering myself

in BaaN IV c4 sp4

is

#prama used dll "ottdllbw"



app_start("notepad.exe", "c:\winnt\", "", "", "")

is about the same in earlier posts, but i guess thet others has errors, this is the one who works.
:D

P.D: Alfred i havent see your post with the complete code sorry