I have an EXE file reference in my C# project. How do I invoke that EXE file from my code?
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4 Answers
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using System.Diagnostics;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
Process.Start("C:\\");
}
}
If your application needs cmd arguments, use something like this:
using System.Diagnostics;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
LaunchCommandLineApp();
}
/// <summary>
/// Launch the application with some options set.
/// </summary>
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.
}
}
}

Jesse Hufstetler
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Logan B. Lehman
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2`startInfo.UseShellExecute = false` was an awesome thing...It worked for me like a charm! Thank you! :) – RisingHerc Sep 26 '19 at 07:59
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@logganB.lehman process hangs forever on exeProcess.WaitForExit(); any idea? – Dragon Jun 06 '20 at 13:51
20
Look at Process.Start and Process.StartInfo

Mark Hall
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Can you make your answer more comprehensive? And/or point to a duplicate? – Peter Mortensen Aug 31 '21 at 13:22
18
Example:
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("mspaint.exe");
Compiling the Code
Copy the code and paste it into the Main method of a console application. Replace "mspaint.exe" with the path to the application you want to run.
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16How does this provide more value than the already created answers? The accepted answer also shows the usage of `Process.Start()` – default Dec 18 '14 at 23:23
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5SO - it's OK to help a beginner with simplified, step by step examples with many details stripped away. Also ok to use caps :P – DukeDidntNukeEm Oct 08 '18 at 17:54
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2I just needed a quick way to execute the exe and this was really helpful. Thank you :) – Sushant Poojary Aug 01 '19 at 09:45