Backgrounding in XP Batch Files[moved from Web design]

alexandicity · 06-18-2009, 08:21 AM

Hi all!

I need a shortcut to start up two applications concurrently on an XP box. I think that Batch files are the way to go here.

Experimenting, I find that a file that looks like:

Code:

echo on
START notepad
notepad

works well. I run this, and two instances of Notepad appear. Note the START command; without this the batch file waits for the first notepad to complete, which is not what I wanted.

So that's all great, except I don't want to run Notepad. I want to run some obscure corporate binary instead. But, when I substitute the command names and add a needed argument (config file), it doesn't work. It waits for the first commend to complete, despite the START

Code:

echo on
START my_prog.exe config_file
 my_prog.exe config_file2

My question is: what exactly is START or the Batch interpreter waiting for when running a command via START or otherwise? Why would notepad be fine and start two instances but my binary is causing it to wait on teh first one?

Is there a better way to start two apps concurrently? Is there a way to put the application into the background (perhaps equivalent to a " &" suffix in Linux?)

Thanks a load!

**Squashman** · 06-20-2009, 11:30 AM

Why aren't you using start for both of them? The only way it should wait is if you are using the /wait option with the start command.

Is it possible that this program only allows one instance to be running? We have several in house applications that are written that way where I work.

06-18-2009, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
alexandicity Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Ubuntu Intrepid	Backgrounding in XP Batch Files[moved from Web design] Hi all! I need a shortcut to start up two applications concurrently on an XP box. I think that Batch files are the way to go here. Experimenting, I find that a file that looks like: Code: echo on START notepad notepad works well. I run this, and two instances of Notepad appear. Note the START command; without this the batch file waits for the first notepad to complete, which is not what I wanted. So that's all great, except I don't want to run Notepad. I want to run some obscure corporate binary instead. But, when I substitute the command names and add a needed argument (config file), it doesn't work. It waits for the first commend to complete, despite the START Code: echo on START my_prog.exe config_file my_prog.exe config_file2 My question is: what exactly is START or the Batch interpreter waiting for when running a command via START or otherwise? Why would notepad be fine and start two instances but my binary is causing it to wait on teh first one? Is there a better way to start two apps concurrently? Is there a way to put the application into the background (perhaps equivalent to a " &" suffix in Linux?) Thanks a load!

06-20-2009, 11:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
Squashman Tech, Networking Forums Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 1265 Lombardi Ave. Posts: 1,142 OS: All of the above	Re: Backgrounding in XP Batch Files[moved from Web design] Why aren't you using start for both of them? The only way it should wait is if you are using the /wait option with the start command. Is it possible that this program only allows one instance to be running? We have several in house applications that are written that way where I work.