Running a EXE with command line parameters in VB 2005

[flamingskullz]

Hi Guys, im trying to get VB to run the regedit.exe function with the following command line

regedit.exe /E C:\VB.txt "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Aberlink 3D"

Anybody have any ideas? The problem i have is getting VB 2005 to export an entire subkey rather than just one value at a time. Am i going down the right route with using regedit or is there a function within .net that will do this for me?

Thanks in advance

Ben

[Plater]

Check the Process class.
It will take a filename and arguments

There is also a Registry class for editing the Registry settings though

[flamingskullz]

Cheers Plater, but ive been using the process class and it doesn't like and parameters after the .exe ive also played with the registry class but there isnt a function to export a part of the registry :(

[Plater]

Cheers Plater, but ive been using the process class and it doesn't like and parameters after the .exe ive also played with the registry class but there isnt a function to export a part of the registry :(

What does your code look like for the arguments and the like?

[flamingskullz]

Here is the line ive been playing with:

  Private Sub ExportReg_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExportReg.Click
        Process.Start("regedit.exe /E C:\Regtest.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Aberlink 3D")
    End Sub

But it refuses to let me run the .exe with added parameters, i delved into the My.computer.registry functions again with no luck.

Thanks again

[TRScheel]

Here is the line ive been playing with:

  Private Sub ExportReg_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles ExportReg.Click
        Process.Start("regedit.exe /E C:\Regtest.reg "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Aberlink 3D")
    End Sub

But it refuses to let me run the .exe with added parameters, i delved into the My.computer.registry functions again with no luck.

Thanks again

Process.Start has an overload where you can pass parameters. Its something like:

Process.Start(string Filename, string Arguements);

[flamingskullz]

Process.Start has an overload where you can pass parameters. Its something like:

Process.Start(string Filename, string Arguements);

Thanks that seems to have done the trick, below is the function of clicking a button, the command works fine until the Reg key i want to export has a space somewhere in the key name.
IE Aberlink 3D shown below:

    Private Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
        Process.Start("C:\Windows\Regedit.exe", "/e C:\Joy.xxx HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Aberlink 3D")
 
    End Sub

Anybody know how to get around this??? been trying for the last day. The command works fine if i were to use the "Ahead" key rather than "Aberlink 3D" for example

[Plater]

You are going to need to put the argument itself in quotes (as opposed to just a string in code)

 
Private Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click
        Process.Start("C:\Windows\Regedit.exe", "/e \C:\Joy.xxx \"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Aberlink 3D\"")
 
    End Sub
 

The \" is used to insert a " inside a string, so just make sure they wrap around the correct parts

[flamingskullz]

still wont run with that space between "Aberlink 3D". im so close if it werent for this silly void between words!

[Plater]

Try "[" or "(" or something then?
Or look up the help for that command on msdn?

[flamingskullz]

still no joy, VB obviously sees the space and assumes that the "3D" is a seperate parameter. I cant see any way of getting round it unless VB has its own export function. All the functions i have found only include low level functions like, read, write, create and delete. i will venture on though!

[Martin2007]

The argument you are using, is it a file? If it is a file you will need the full file extension...

also have you tried typing exactly what you have in the string into the command prompt...?

I managed to get this working, with the space, but it is using a txt file not a directory, hope this helps.

    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Process.Start("notepad.exe", "C:\Documents and Settings\User\Desktop\test test.txt")
    End Sub
 

Also it appears you are using more than one argument, maybe you have to put them as seperate strings, although i doubt it, i'm just thinking outloud...

any additional info u have on the prob will help with the solution!

Martin

[flamingskullz]

Hi Martin, the code i have works providing there isnt a space anywhere in the registry path i want to export. Which is a real pisser considering the part of the registry i need is some software called "Aberlink 3D". I just need to code it so it sees "Aberlink" and "3D" as the complete path name rather than two seperate entities.

[Martin2007]

Hi Martin, the code i have works providing there isnt a space anywhere in the registry path i want to export. Which is a real pisser considering the part of the registry i need is some software called "Aberlink 3D". I just need to code it so it sees "Aberlink" and "3D" as the complete path name rather than two seperate entities.

So it is a directory then.... try

Process.Start("C:\Windows\Regedit.exe", "/e C:\Joy.xxx \HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Aberlink 3D\")
 

To be honest i have never used the function that you are using, but I have used command line args, and when passing a directory I found that you had to pass the full name with the final "\".

Report back, this is annoying me, tho i can appreciate not as much as it annoys you!

Martin

[flamingskullz]

Martin you are a saint my friend! i have managed to get it to export finally!

 Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        Process.Start("c:\Windows\regedit.exe", "/e c:\AB3DSettings.reg ""HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Aberlink 3D\""")
 
    End Sub
 

I had to double quote the arguement but the \ has done the trick. My hero :)
Thanks again to Plater for you help, most appreciated :)