How to execute another exe from a C++ program in Windows

Question

I want my C++ program to execute another .exe, in Windows. How would I do this? I am using Visual C++ 2010.

Here is my code

#include "stdafx.h"
#include <iostream>

using namespace std;

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    unsigned int input;
    cout << "Enter 1 to execute program." << endl;
    cin >> input;
    if(input == 1) /*execute program here*/;
    return 0;
}

You can use http://stackoverflow.com/questions/478898/how-to-execute-a-command-and-get-output-of-command-within-c to call any executable from yours. — superarce, Jul 17 '13 at 15:20
You can use [ShellExecute](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb776886(v=vs.85).aspx) for this. — Michael, Jul 17 '13 at 15:20
possible duplicate [Execute another program in C++](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2244439/execute-another-program-in-c) — user1810087, Jul 17 '13 at 15:21
I did use google search and found an answer that worked for Unix but not windows. :) — ThePrince, Jul 17 '13 at 15:44

score 35 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 02 '16 at 09:20

This is a solution I found when looking for an answer previously.
It stated that you should always avoid using system() because:

It is resource heavy
It defeats security -- you don't know you it's a valid command or does the same thing on every system, you could even start up programs you didn't intend to start up. The danger is that when you directly execute a program, it gets the same privileges as your program -- meaning that if, for example, you are running as system administrator then the malicious program you just inadvertently executed is also running as system administrator.
Anti virus programs hate it, your program could get flagged as a virus.

Instead CreateProcess() can be used.
Createprocess() is used to just start up an .exe and creating a new process for it. The application will run independent from the calling application.

#include <Windows.h>

void startup(LPCSTR lpApplicationName)
{
    // additional information
    STARTUPINFOA si;
    PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;

    // set the size of the structures
    ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(si));
    si.cb = sizeof(si);
    ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(pi));

    // start the program up
    CreateProcessA
    (
        lpApplicationName,   // the path
        argv[1],                // Command line
        NULL,                   // Process handle not inheritable
        NULL,                   // Thread handle not inheritable
        FALSE,                  // Set handle inheritance to FALSE
        CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE,     // Opens file in a separate console
        NULL,           // Use parent's environment block
        NULL,           // Use parent's starting directory 
        &si,            // Pointer to STARTUPINFO structure
        &pi           // Pointer to PROCESS_INFORMATION structure
    );
        // Close process and thread handles. 
        CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
        CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
}

sometimes 'argv' variable may be out of scope. I have usually just assigned another global variable the value of argv and used it instead — James Stow, Jul 02 '16 at 09:27

StevieG · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-17T15:31:34.243

19

you can use the system function

int result = system("C:\\Program Files\\Program.exe");

edited Jul 17 '13 at 15:31

answered Jul 17 '13 at 15:22

StevieG

8,639
23
31

1

Can we also pass parameters to that program? – Shayan May 06 '22 at 13:07

score 12 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 17 '13 at 15:21

12

Use the CreateProcess() Function.

See http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms682425%28v=vs.85%29.aspx for details

answered Jul 17 '13 at 15:21

Robert Mason

3,949
3
31
44

score 5 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 17 '13 at 15:27

5

You can make a call using system

system("./some_command")

answered Jul 17 '13 at 15:27

sedavidw

11,116
13
61
95

score 3 · Answer 5 · edited Oct 31 '18 at 12:00

3

I believe this answer should work with different programs, I tested it with Chrome.

// open program.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"
#include "string"

using namespace std;

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    string command = "start chrome https://www.google.com/";
    system(command.c_str());

    return 0;
}

edited Oct 31 '18 at 12:00

brasofilo

25,496
15
91
179

answered Oct 31 '18 at 11:29

Dan

51
5

How to execute another exe from a C++ program in Windows

5 Answers5

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