How do I call a hidden process from a web app ?

[malkin]

Hello all,

I have a web application which needs to call a console application and capture the output of that execution process.

What I have is the following:

ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo();
psi.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
psi.FileName = "doTask.exe";
psi.Arguments = "abc";
psi.UseShellExecute = false;
psi.CreateNoWindow = true;
psi.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
 
Process proc = new Process()
proc.StartInfo = psi;
proc.Start();
string output = proc.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
proc.WaitForExit();
 
// print the output from this execution process on a web page.. etc

The problem I have is that no matter which option I set (CreateNoWindow, UseShellExecute..etc), the console application will always pop up when this web page executes. What have I missed ?

However, I have tried to use the same code on a standalone windows app and it's working as expected. Just that when I run this code on a webpage, it just doesn't do what I expected.

Thanks !!

[Frinavale]

A console application has to run in a console.
That's why the console is opened when you execute the console app.

Why is this a problem?
No web user is going to see a console application open and close on the server.

[malkin]

In fact, the console application process is triggered in an ActiveX control which means the console application is already pre-installed in client's PC.

It seems that the options (CreateNoWindow or WindowStyle) doesn't affect the ActiveX control when triggering a process.

[Frinavale]

Hmm you never mentioned that you were using ActiveX in your original post.

I'm not sure how to prevent this, sorry.