Running applications from DelphiTM: Using ShellExecute (Part 1) {转贴}[1]

running applications from delphi^tm: using shellexecute (part 1)

running or opening external programs or files, from delphi^tm applications, is often a necessary requirement. this article covers the shellexecute windows api function, revealing techniques for running external applications from your delphi applications.

running applications from delphi

there are a number of reasons why you might be interested in running external applications from your delphi application. often programs are segmented into a number of logical divisions to represent different components of a larger system. some sub-system components might include:

• main application

• setup/installer application

• system application (specifying system wide options)

• application server application

• reporting application

• an external third party application

as can be seen, there are a number of reasons why you might need to call an external application. let's discuss how we can do this with the shellexecute command.

shellexecute winapi

the shellexecute api allows for the execution (or "running") of external applications. it also has a number of other uses, however these all involve performing operations on external files. the syntax for the shellexecute winapi function is:

hinstance shellexecute(hwnd hwnd,
     lpctstr lpoperation,
     lpctstr lpfile,
     lpctstr lpparameters,
     lpctstr lpdirectory,
     int nshowcmd
);


the following is a description of the parameters for the shellexecute function.