VB .NET 2003 question

[FalcomPSX]

I"m using VB.net and had a simple question. I'm trying to make a command button launch an external program. How could I go about doing this?

[vass0922]

Hmm I'm not terribly familiar with vb.net 2003..
But are you trying to start an MS office application or a 3rd party app?

[Lemon]

You can probably find your answer somewhere in This download of code samples from MS.

[FalcomPSX]

I'm trying to launch a 3rd party app. I may need to have parameters in the launch line too. such as "generic.exe -switch filename.exe" or something like that. I'll look through those downloaded files.

[Creosote]

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Shell("c:\winnt\notepad.exe", AppWinStyle.NormalFocus)
    End Sub

[FalcomPSX]

that's perfect, exactly what i needed, next question is are there system variables i can use to get the current windows directory? since it's sometimes it's windows, sometimes winnt?

*edit*
also, how would i find the working directory for a program? so it can be installed from any directory and have like a button that would launch notepad and open a specific file in that directory?

[Creosote]

There might be a namespace in .Net for it, I'm not sure. Anways, you can use the api

http://www.developerfusion.com/show/2561/

[FalcomPSX]

awesome, that solves half my problem with ease, now about getting the drive letter, or current operating path of a program...is there a easy trick for that too?

[Creosote]

The application path is much easier:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        MsgBox(Application.StartupPath)
    End Sub

[FalcomPSX]

that is easy. it's been a while since i screwed with vb at all and plus, i'm all self taught for the most part, so it's fun sometimes trying to figure out how to do stuff. Thanks a million for the tips!