Running applications: Difference between revisions

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(example code for file.launch)
(asquella asked me to move to MDC)
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{{extdev}}
{{extdev}}


This page describes how to run other programs from your chrome JavaScript code, using Mozilla XPCOM interfaces.
Moved [http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Code_snippets:Running_applications here] (MDC).
 
[[Category:Redirects]] [[Category:Example code]] [[Category:XPCOM example code]] [[Category:JavaScript example code]]
There are two ways to run programs. The first is to use <code>[http://xulplanet.com/references/xpcomref/ifaces/nsILocalFile.html nsILocalFile.launch()]</code> method, the second is to use <code>[http://xulplanet.com/references/xpcomref/ifaces/nsIProcess.html nsIProcess]</code> interface.
 
==Using nsILocalFile.launch()==
This method has the same effect as if you double-clicked the file, so for executable files&mdash;it will just run the file without any parameters. It may not be implemented on some platforms, so make sure your this method is implemented on your target platforms. It seems to be implemented on Windows.
 
For more information on <code>nsIFile</code>/<code>nsILocalFile</code>, see [[Dev : Extensions : Example Code : File IO | File IO]].
 
<pre>
var file = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"]
                    .createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
file.initWithPath("c:\\myapp.exe");
file.launch();
</pre>
 
==Using nsIProcess==
The recommended way is to use [http://xulplanet.com/references/xpcomref/ifaces/nsIProcess.html nsIProcess] interface. It is as easy as:
<pre>// create an nsILocalFile for the executable
var file = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/file/local;1"]
                    .createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
file.initWithPath("c:\\myapp.exe");
 
// create an nsIProcess
var process = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/process/util;1"]
                        .createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProcess);
process.init(file);
 
// Run the process.
// If first param is true, calling process will be blocked until
// called process terminates.  
// Second and third params are used to pass command-line arguments
// to the process.
var args = ["argument1", "argument2"];
process.run(false, args, args.length);</pre>
 
==References==
*[http://xulplanet.com/references/xpcomref/ifaces/nsILocalFile.html nsILocalFile interface]
*[http://xulplanet.com/references/xpcomref/ifaces/nsIProcess.html nsIProcess interface]
 
[[Category:Example code]] [[Category:XPCOM example code]] [[Category:JavaScript example code]]

Revision as of 14:14, 9 November 2006

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Moved here (MDC).