Re: Using the Shell function in a web application

Tech Tip: Click here to run a free scan for Windows Errors and optimize PC performance

From: Steve C. Orr [MVP, MCSD] (Steve_at_Orr.net)
Date: 03/09/04


Date: Mon, 8 Mar 2004 16:10:20 -0800

Yes, it's probably a permissions issue.
You'll likely want to try using impersonation so you're running under a user
account that has the necessary permissions. (Try setting it to use your
username & pw for initial testing purposes.)
Here's more info:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/cpguide/html/cpconaspnetimpersonation.asp

Also, you might try using the process object since it's a bit more robust
than shell. Here's an example:
Dim proc As System.Diagnostics.Process = New System.Diagnostics.Process()
proc.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\test.exe"
proc.StartInfo.WorkingDirectory = "C:\"
proc.StartInfo.Arguments = strMyArguments
proc.Start()

-- 
I hope this helps,
Steve C. Orr, MCSD, MVP
http://Steve.Orr.net
"Eric Caron" <ecaron@nospam.quebecaffaires.com> wrote in message
news:uRnzATUBEHA.2768@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hi all,
>
> I'm trying to automate some tasks on a server in our intranet by using a
web
> application.  I already have a batch script that registers a DLL passed as
a
> parameter on the command line.  I'd like to be able to first copy a file
> from a shared location to the root of the c:\ drive, then call my batch
file
> with the file as a parameter.  I found the Shell function that seemed to
do
> what I want and did a quick and dirty web form with a textbox and a button
> with the following code on the on_click handler of the button:
>
> strCommandLine = "copy E:\Data\" & Me.txtCommand.Text & " c:\"
> Response.Write("<p>" & strCommandLine & "</p>" & vbCrLf)
> Shell("copy E:\Data\" & Me.txtCommand.Text & " c:\", AppWinStyle.Hide,
True)
> strCommandLine = "update.bat " & Me.txtCommand.Text
> Response.Write("<p>" & strCommandLine & "</p>" & vbCrLf)
> Shell("update.bat " & Me.txtCommand.Text)
>
> However, I get the following error when the Shell command is executed:
>
> File not found.
> Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the
> current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information
> about the error and where it originated in the code.
>
> Exception Details: System.IO.FileNotFoundException: File not found.
>
> I'm sure of the path and the file is there.  I'm wondering if it's a
> permission problem and the error message is misleading me.
>
> Any example of a similar task?
>
>

Quantcast