How to determine if external exe is running before calling "System Exec.vi"

[Rick N.]

I initiate another executable function from within my LabView code. I'd like to check if the other function is running before I make the call.

Only one copy of the other executable can run at one time, and my operator may have already started it before using the LabView code.

Thanks

[tbob]

You could call an API function to list all the processes running, and search the list for your process.  See this link.

If you could rewrite the exe, you could set a registry key, or even write something to a file, when the exe is first executed. Then your LV code can check the registry key or check the file before it launches system exec.

[GregR · Accepted solution]

A slightly easier way is to use use system exec to execute the tasklist command. Parsing this commands output will be easier than writing a bunch of code to use the Windows APIs. Running tasklist /NH /FI "IMAGENAME eq tasklist.exe" produces the output below.

tasklist.exe                  1796 Console                    1      5,916 K

If the exe is not running, it will output this.

INFO: No tasks are running which match the specified criteria.

Now all you have to do is some string parsing.

[Rick N.]

tasklist worked well

thanks

[Joe_H]

I'm going to have to commit this one to memory or myself

"Now where did I put my memory, Oh YA it's inside my brain, DUH"

[tbob]

This should be a nugget, unless Darren has already put this one out.

[Rathnam.M]

Hi,

I tried the suggestion given by you. But I am getting different output every time.

How can I determine whether my exe is running or not?

Regards,

Rathnam.M

[tbob]

You are getting a different output because the task list is changing every time you run it.  However, if the exe you are interested in is running, it will be listed in the output from tasklist, no matter what else is there.  Just search the list for the exe you want.  If the search results turn up empty, the exe is not running.  You must know the exact name of the exe.  To see what it is called, run tasklist in a cmd window.  Notice the list of tasks running.  Then run your exe and run tasklist again.  Look for the exe name.  This is what you should search for.

[tbob]

Here is some code that will determine if an exe is running.  I used Search and Replace String because I can set the ignore case to true so I don't have to exactly match the case.  Some tasks show up as all upper case, such as WINWORD.EXE.  By setting ignore case to True, I can type winword.exe in my search control.

[Rathnam.M]

Thank you. Sorry for the late reply.