CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#.netwinformsconsole-application
RXC
RXC

Reputation: 1233

Can a WinForms program be run from command line?

I would like to know if its is possible to have a winforms program that can also be run from the command line?

What I want to do is create a simple Winform that sends out an email. This program will be called from a console application that I already have. But I also want to be able to run this program separately as well.

Is this possible?

If so, how can I run this program from my existing console application?

I am using .NET 4.5 in C#.

Upvotes: 4

Views: 5245

Answers (5)

Steve
Steve

Reputation: 216358

Of course it is possible, if you have built your winform app using the default settings, then search the Program.cs file and you will find the Main method.

You could change this method signature in this way

    [STAThread]
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
         // Here I suppose you pass, as first parameter, this flag to signal 
         // your intention to process from command line, 
         // of course change it as you like
         if(args != null && args[0] == "/autosendmail")
         {
              // Start the processing of your command line params
              ......
              // At the end the code falls out of the main and exits    
         }
         else
         {
             // No params passed on the command line, open the usual UI interface
             Application.EnableVisualStyles();
             Application.SetCompatibleTextRenderingDefault(false);
             Application.Run(new frmMain());

         }
    }

I have forgot to answer the other part of your question, how to launch this winapp from your console application. It is really easy with the Process class in the System.Diagnostics namespace and the ProcessStartInfo to fine tune the environment of the launched application

   ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo();
   psi.FileName = "YourWinApp.exe";
   psi.Arguments = "/autosendmail [email protected]  ..... "; // or just a filename with data
   psi.WorkingDirectory = "."; // or directory where you put the winapp 
   Process.Start(psi);

Given the numerous information needed to send a mail, I suggest to store all the destination addresses and texts to send in a file and pass just the filename to your winapp

Upvotes: 11

Abhinav Rao
Abhinav Rao

Reputation: 96

Try this 

    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        Application.EnableVisualStyles();
        Form1 f = new Form1();
        f.SendMail();
        Application.Run();

        Console.ReadLine();
    }

This will hide the Win form and you can still call any of the public methods of Win Form.

Upvotes: 3

Vlad Bezden
Vlad Bezden

Reputation: 89775

If I understand you correctly you would like to start windows form from existing console application. If that is the case then you will need to call it from console application like this:

Process.Start("YourWindowsApp.exe");

You can user ProcessStartInfo in order to have more control about how to start your process. For instance you can send additional arguments, or you can start your window as hidden. Here is an example on how to use ProcessStartInfo.

ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
startInfo.FileName = "YourWindowsApp.exe";
startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
startInfo.Arguments = "arguments for YourWindowsApp.exe";
Process.Start(startInfo);

Upvotes: 1

Shamim
Shamim

Reputation: 443

if you want to run a different application (like your winform.exe) from your first application (your console app) in C#, put this line in your code:

System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("...\winform.exe"); // file path should be exact!

the winform.exe here actually will be your executable file that should be in release or debug folder inside YourProjectFolder\bin. you can double-click the executable file to run it manually!

Upvotes: 1

ispiro
ispiro

Reputation: 27753

ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo
{
    FileName = "youApplicationPath",
    Arguments = "balh blah blah",
    WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden
};
Process p = new Process { StartInfo = psi };
p.Start();

Get the arguments by:

Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()

Upvotes: 2

Related Questions