Question about ShellExecute()

[driessen]

Hello,

From my application, I want to start another application like Excel or Acrobat Reader.

Launching this application is no problem but I want my application to wait until the launched application has been closed.

Can anyone tell me how do to that ?

Thanks a lot in advance.

[Enrico Maria Giordano]

Did you try using WaitRun()?

EMG

[driessen]

Enrico,

WaitRun() is not solution.

I want to open files.

Examples :

ShellExecute(,"Open","TEST.PDF")
ShellExecute(,"Open","TEST.XLS")

ShellExecute will open Adobe Acrobat automatically, without having to know the exact path where the reader can be found.

If I use WaitRun(), I have to know the exact path of the reader.

Why do I want my application to wait ?

In my application a database is available, containing all the documents in the system. If a document is opened, a parameter is set to .T., so that other users can't open this document too.

If the document is closed, the parameter is set back to .F. so that it is available again to other users.

But thanks anyway.

[Loach]

You can try:

Code: Select all  Expand view

hFile   := FOpen( 'Test.xls' , 1 )
if hFile>0
   FClose( hFile )
else
   MsgStop('File is busy...')
   return .f.
endif
ShellExecute( 0, "Open", 'Test.xls',,, 3 )
 

[driessen]

Thank you for your suggestion.

But that is not really what I'm looking for.

In your case, I can't show to other users which document is opened because you test just before opening it.

And that's is not the solution I want.

But thanks anyway

[Loach]

It seems, that in your case only "DEFINE TIMER" will help.
This timer periodically check if TEST.XLS can be opened in RW mode, and if it's happends set back your parameter to .F. and destroy itself.

[driessen]

Loach,

Thanks a lot for your help.

Your suggestion does the job at the end.

How do I do it now ?

First in the header don't forget :

Code: Select all  Expand view

#INCLUDE "FILEIO.CH"

And then the code :

Code: Select all  Expand view

ShellExecute(nil,"Open",DOCUMENT)
SYSWAIT(2)
DO WHILE cRet
   cRet := .F.
   hFile := FOPEN(DOCUMENT,FO_READWRITE + FO_EXCLUSIVE)
   IF FERROR() <> 0
      cRet := .T.
   ELSE
      FCLOSE(hFile)
      EXIT
   ENDIF
   SYSREFRESH()
   SYSWAIT(0.5)
ENDDO
 

Thanks again.