Spawn process in Java, similar as double-click

Question

I have a Java application and i would like to spawn a new process(start a .bat file), that will essintially do the same thing as by double-clicking on it.

I have tried both Runtime.getRuntime().exec() and ProcessBuilder in order to spawn that process. Both those approaches work (they can start the .bat file), but my problem is that they do not actually do the exact same thing as by double clicking on it.

More specifically, this .bat file starts up a JVM (java.exe MyMainClass) which is configured to run using Windows SxS (side by side). Thus, i have created appropriate java.exe.config and java.exe.manifest files. When i doulbe click on that, the java application starts and the appropriate .dlls are loaded succesfuly (reason i need SxS).

My problem is that when i start the exact same .bat file (with the exact same arguments and process environment), either by using ProcessBuilder or Runtime.getRuntime().exec(), it doesn't seem to take into consideration my SxS configuration, thus the .dlls that i need are not loaded at all, resulting in errors.

Does anyone have any clue how to launch this .bat file the same way as windows laucnhes it when i am double clicking on it? Additionally, does anyone have any experience with Java SxS deployment? I cannot really understand why ProcessBuilder ignores my SxS configuration.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

You can try starting a cmd window, which loads your application bat file:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /c start cmd.exe /K \"C:\\path\\to\\the\\app.bat arg1 arg2\"");