How can I determine if Shell is running?

[DB_IQ]

I issued a command to Windows Shell to execute a batch file.

Once the command is executed, LabVIEW keeps going.

I would like to be able to tell if the Windows Shell is running, so I can wait accordingly for it to finish.

Is there a way to do this?

[Wolleee]

Did you use the system execute vi to run the batch file? If so there is a boolean node for wait until completion?.

[Wolleee]

Also, you can use the system execute vi to launch your batch file. I have done this before.  The command is

cmd / c start "your batch file path""your batch file path"

path was required twice in the command.

hope that helps.

[DB_IQ]

Well, the problem is the batch file I am trying to run has to be executed as an administrator. Which made the system cmd unfeasible.

I had a seperate thread on the original issue:

http://forums.ni.com/t5/LabVIEW/How-to-Run-System-Exec-Batch-File-as-an-Admin/m-p/3327937#M975931

I had to use Shell to get the program to launch properlly. Now what I need to do is know when it finishes, and preferably what the result was.

[Call.Me.Wilbur]

If the operation is going to take a predictable amount of time you could always put a delay in your code before you continue execution. This would be the simplest approach if your application is predictable enough.

[DB_IQ · Accepted solution]

I identified a work around:

I modified my batch file to simply write to a text file the results, as well as to write when the process is finished.

It's far from Ideal, but it works for what I need it to do.

Thanks anyway for the assistance.

[Sam_Sharp]

You can also use the .NET process library to find the handle of the process and then detect when it has finished executing - it's a useful library and offers a lot more functionality than System Exec.