ExecDos plug-in

Author: Takhir (talk, contrib)

Links

Download:
ExecDos.zip (40 KB)
Forum thread

Description

Plug-in works with console applications - creates hidden child process with redirected i/o. Compare to nsExec has four add-ons:

1. string parameter that serves as stdin for running application - may be useful if you want to give login/password to running application;
2. sync/async (background) process launch option - async is good for long running applications;
3. it works out of section - for .onInit check outs;
4. multithreading - allows to run few applications at the same time.

Plug-in puts stdout/log to file (if valid file name defined in the command line) instead of 'detailed' installer window like nsExec does, output size is limited with disk free space only. Maximum input (stdin) string size (i.e. plug-in second parameter) is up to 8kB in the special NSIS build, 1 kB otherwise.
'exec' return code depends on the execution mode: application exit code for sync mode and control thread handle for async one. Handle required for 'wait' - it helps to understand what application exit to wait for. If stack is not used between 'exec' and 'wait', both Pop after 'exec' and 'wait' parameter may be skipped - handle just sits in the stack.

Syntax

"exec" DLL function

ExecDos::exec [/NOUNLOAD /ASYNC] [/TIMEOUT=xxx] application_to_run [stdin_string] [log_file_name]

Executes console application.

ASYNC

Not waits for process exit. Use 'wait' call if you want to get exit code. (/NOUNLOAD is mandatory!)

TIMEOUT

TOTAL execution time, milliseconds, for example /TIMEOUT=10000. Default is big enough. Short timeouts may cause app to

be terminated.

application_to_run

application to run.

stdin_string

all that application can get from stdin (optional, use "" if stack is not empty)

log_file_name

file where to put app's stdout (optional, but use "" if stack is not empty)

"wait" DLL function

ExecDos::wait handle

Waits for process exit.

handle

Control thread handle returned by 'exec' call in the /ASYNC mode.

Example

Sync execution:

ExecDos::exec /TIMEOUT=2000 "$EXEDIR\consApp.exe" "test_login$\ntest_pwd$\n" "$EXEDIR\execdos.log"
Pop $0 # return value
MessageBox MB_OK "Exit code $0"

Async execution:

ExecDos::exec /NOUNLOAD /ASYNC "$EXEDIR\consApp.exe" "test_login$\ntest_pwd$\n" "$EXEDIR\execdos.log"
Pop $0 # thread handle for wait
# you can add some installation code here to execute while application is running.
ExecDos::wait $0
Pop $0 # return value
MessageBox MB_OK "Exit code $0"

BAT files specifics. On some of Win98 systems where "Close on exit" option is not set for DOS apps it was found

that after batch execution was finished (and installer continue it's job) hidden window still remains in the system

as "winoldapp". Following two lines solve the problem

@echo off
# place your code here
cls

Telnet and ssh Plug-in not works with applications requiring terminal emulation.