ProcessStartInfo run exe in PATH envirionment variable

Question

I'm trying to run an exe using ProcessStartInfo. The problem is I only want to specify the exe name, and add the executable path to the PATH environment variable in Windows. When I try to run my application I got a FileNotFoundException. Everything works fine when I start the process with the full name. Any ideas?

-- Edit: Thanks for the comments, Ill give an example to make it more clear:

ProcessStartInfo p = new ProcessStartInfo("example.exe");

I added the path of example.exe in the Windows Envirionment PATH variable manually, but still my application can't start the process example.exe

do you want to add it programmatically to the path environment variable? — Norbert Willhelm, Oct 10 '11 at 13:43
Have you re-started the application after changing the environment variable? — Oded, Oct 10 '11 at 14:59
Log out and log back in to ensure all processes, including VS, Explorer and the VS hosting process use the modified environment variable. — Hans Passant, Oct 10 '11 at 17:03
Thanks Hans, problem solved. Didn't know I had to close VS as well (in fact I restarted my machine today and it worked). — Marthijn, Oct 11 '11 at 12:56

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 10 '11 at 13:45

3

You can use GetEnvironmentVariable and SetEnvironmentVariable that are on the Environment class.

var currentPathVariable = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("path");
var newPathVariable = currentPathVariable + ";another path";
Environment.SetEnvironmentVariable("path", newPathVariable);

answered Oct 10 '11 at 13:45

Oded

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Thanks, but this is not what I meant. I made it more clear by adding an example in my question. – Marthijn Oct 10 '11 at 13:56

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 10 '11 at 16:58

0

You could create a sub key in the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths in the registry.

Have a look at Registering Applications Using the App Paths sub key.

answered Oct 10 '11 at 16:58

Norbert Willhelm

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ProcessStartInfo run exe in PATH envirionment variable

2 Answers2