How to hide cmd window while running a batch file?

Question

I use the following code to run batch file

process = new Process();
process.StartInfo.FileName = batchFilePath;
process.Start();

Joel Goodwin · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-08T09:40:21.773

If proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute is false, then you are launching the process and can use:

proc.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;

If proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute is true, then the OS is launching the process and you have to provide a "hint" to the process via:

proc.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;

However the called application may ignore this latter request.

If using UseShellExecute = false, you might want to consider redirecting standard output/error, to capture any logging produced:

proc.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
proc.OutputDataReceived += new DataReceivedEventHandler(ProcessOutputHandler);
proc.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
proc.ErrorDataReceived += new DataReceivedEventHandler(ProcessOutputHandler);

And have a function like

private void ProcessOutputHandler(object sendingProcess, DataReceivedEventArgs outLine)
{
   if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(outLine.Data)) // use the output outLine.Data somehow;
}

There's a good page covering CreateNoWindow this on an MSDN blog.

There is also a bug in Windows which may throw a dialog and defeat CreateNoWindow if you are passing a username/password. For details

http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=98476 http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=818858

Sometimes works, others doesn't. Does this depend on bat file commands? — Ahmed Atia, Jul 08 '09 at 08:17
Ahmed, I've made the answer more comprehensive and the two different options you have for hiding the window. Also, depending on the application, I think you can still have it break out and make some windows despite your better efforts. — Joel Goodwin, Jul 08 '09 at 09:33

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 08 '09 at 07:27

According to the Process properties, you do have a:

Property: CreateNoWindow
Notes: Allows you to run a command line program silently. It does not flash a console window.

and:

Property: WindowStyle
Notes: Use this to set windows as hidden. The author has used ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden often.

As an example!

static void LaunchCommandLineApp()
{
    // For the example
    const string ex1 = "C:\\";
    const string ex2 = "C:\\Dir";

    // Use ProcessStartInfo class
    ProcessStartInfo startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
    startInfo.CreateNoWindow = false;
    startInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
    startInfo.FileName = "dcm2jpg.exe";
    startInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;
    startInfo.Arguments = "-f j -o \"" + ex1 + "\" -z 1.0 -s y " + ex2;

    try
    {
        // Start the process with the info we specified.
        // Call WaitForExit and then the using statement will close.
        using (Process exeProcess = Process.Start(startInfo))
        {
            exeProcess.WaitForExit();
        }
    }
    catch
    {
        // Log error.
    }
}

Sometimes works, others doesn't. Does this depend on bat file commands? — Ahmed Atia, Jul 08 '09 at 08:19

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 08 '09 at 07:27

5

Use: process.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;

answered Jul 08 '09 at 07:27

alifeofkaizen

139
2

1

Sometimes works, others doesn't. Does this depend on bat file commands? – Ahmed Atia Jul 08 '09 at 08:18

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 17 '13 at 05:47

This is what worked for me, When you redirect all of the input and output, and set the window hidden it should work

            Process p = new Process();
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardInput = true;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
            p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
            p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Nov 08 '20 at 22:00

try with this and this where the c# code is embedded into the batch files:

@echo off

echo self minimizing
call getCmdPid.bat
call windowMode.bat -pid %errorlevel% -mode minimized

echo --other commands--
pause

Though it might be not so easy to unhide the window.

How to hide cmd window while running a batch file?

5 Answers5

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