CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netmicrosoft-metro
Marcel B
Marcel B

Reputation: 3664

How to start a Process from a Win 8 App?

I can’t find System.Diagnostics.Process to start a new process. I guess this is on purpose. But is there a other way? Is this even possible?

Upvotes: 4

Views: 2457

Answers (2)

Marcel B
Marcel B

Reputation: 3664

Looks like it’s not possible to open any non-metro processes. You can open URLs or Files like *.txt, but not *.cmd or *.exe.

If there is a Custom File Association you could possibly(I haven’t try this) start a process by opening an empty file with your custom filename extension. But you can’t edit the registry to add the association from your app.
So there are no App-Only ways to do this (except not yet discovered hacks ;) ).

Upvotes: 0

Furqan Safdar
Furqan Safdar

Reputation: 16698

You can use this reference on Windows 8 Metro application : How to Start a external Program from Metro App. All the Metro-style applications work in the highly sand boxed environment and there is no way to directly start an external application.

You can try using Launcher class

  1. Launcher.LaunchFileAsync

    // Path to the file in the app package to launch
string exeFile = @"C:\Program Files (x86)\App.exe";

var file = await Windows.ApplicationModel.Package.Current.InstalledLocation
                        .GetFileAsync(exeFile);

if (file != null)
{
    // Set the option to show the picker
    var options = new Windows.System.LauncherOptions();
    options.DisplayApplicationPicker = true;

    // Launch the retrieved file
    bool success = await Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchFileAsync(file, options);
    if (success)
    {
       // File launched
    }
    else
    {
       // File launching failed
    }
}

  2. Launcher.LaunchUriAsync

Reference: Can I use Windows.System.Launcher.LauncherDefaultProgram(Uri) to invoke another metro style app?

Upvotes: 4

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