[RESOLVED] exec probs should this work???

themoog

im expecting notepad to open up when I run the on the localhost???/ But its not

Thanks in advace

<?php
shell_exec('c:\windows\notepad.exe');
?>

Kudose

Are you sure your notepad is located there?

Notepad is in the environment path by default on Window, so you could try:

shell_exec('notepad');
//or
exec('notepad');
//or
`notepad`

bradgrafelman

Actually, Notepad won't open either way. On a Windows system, Apache will execute the command prompt with whatever parameter you specify, i.e. cmd.exe /c notepad.

This process (as well as Notepad.exe) is a "child" process of the Apache service and is thus launched with the same privileges. The default privileges for the Apache service is SYSTEM privileges, and is not allowed to interact with the desktop itself. As such, Notepad does actually run... you just can't see it.

You can change this by altering the permissions on the Apache service. Open up the Services MMC snap-in (Start -> Control Panel -> Services), go to the properties of the Apache service, and on the "Log On" tab, place a check in the box next to "Allow service to interact with the desktop".

EDIT: Note, this change does not take effect immediately - you'll need to stop and start the Apache service so that it is executed with the new permissions.

themoog

cool that now works however the browser side just hangs once thats complete? any thoughts? is there some sort of escape code once run i need to process?

thnks neil

bradgrafelman

Well, what the browser is doing is waiting for the process to finish.

I know on Linux you would use the 'nohup' command or forking syntax ('command &'), but on Windows... I'm not sure how to do this.

themoog

ok its working now, the only problem is i think my process is going to take too long to be practical. I might post another time for some ideas...but thanks guys you got me 99% of the way there.

Cheers