[comp.windows.ms] Launching a Windows appl. from DOS window?

wim@ecn.nl (Wim Rijnsburger) (03/15/91)

Hello,

I should like to know why Windows applications cannot be launched from
a DOS window. I know that Windows applications call a special function
if Windows is not present. But maybe there is a way to catch the situation
that Windows is up and running, while the DOS window is active?

Wim.

---------- Netherlands Energy Research Foundation, ECN --------------
Wim Rijnsburger                          email: RIJNSBURGER@ECN.NL
P.O. Box 1, 1755 ZG  Petten, Holland     phone: +31 2246 4673

goodearl@world.std.com (Robert Goodearl) (03/19/91)

In article <1991Mar15.084619.16265@ecn.nl> rijnsburger@ecn.UUCP (Wim Rijnsburger) writes:
>Hello,
>
>I should like to know why Windows applications cannot be launched from
>a DOS window. I know that Windows applications call a special function
>if Windows is not present. But maybe there is a way to catch the situation
>that Windows is up and running, while the DOS window is active?

The problem is that command.com is not aware that it is running inside of
windows.

Recently there was a posting to c.b.i.p that contained a pair of programs
(one windows, one DOS) which allows you to start a windows program from the
DOS command line.  It uses the old app clipboard interface to pass the
information from the DOS program (where you specify your windows program
name and options) to the windows program that actually starts up the
new win app.

Included with this was a .obj that could be linked into the stub program
required for all win apps.

All that said, there is no "easy" solution.  I've passed the above info on
to the folks at JP Software with a request that they put that ability into
the next major release of 4DOS.  If such an ability would be enough of an
incentive for you to register a copy of 4DOS, you could let them know.
If enought people ask, I'm sure it would help set their priorities.

You can send mail to Tom Rawson at:
	75300.210@compuserve.com
-- 
Bob Goodearl -- goodearl@world.std.com

alan@ukpoit.co.uk (Alan Barclay) (03/20/91)

In article <1991Mar15.084619.16265@ecn.nl> rijnsburger@ecn.UUCP (Wim Rijnsburger) writes:
>I should like to know why Windows applications cannot be launched from
>a DOS window. I know that Windows applications call a special function
>if Windows is not present. But maybe there is a way to catch the situation
>that Windows is up and running, while the DOS window is active?
>

WINVER does this. Don't know how though.