VB coding for bespoke SIMS launcher

[cookie_monsta]

Hi guys and girls...

 

Will start by saying thank you in advance.

 

I/we have recently performed the SIMS Summer 2 upgrade.

 

However, we have 3 schools on campus, all of which have their own SIMS installation, but they all share access to out music school which needs access to all 3 SIMS.

 

We have a bespoke launcher however the raw code has been long lost

 

I have converted a .bat file to an .exe file, however I need to call this .exe in VB, sadly I haven't done any VB programming since about 1995.

 

For example, I have created a VB project called SIMS launcher, 4 buttons, 1 for each school and a cancel/exit button (which actually works...woohoo)

 

When a user clicks on LGS, I need it to call LGS SIMS Launcher v3.5.exe..... How do I do that?!?

 

Also, how do I export my project in VB to an exe file?

 

please note I am using VB 2010 Express.

 

Any advice is welcome.

 

Many thanks and kind regards,

 

Cookie

[Steve21]

If it's just literally calling an exe:

 

It's shell("item"), and options etc.

 

e.g.

 

Shell("""C:\my.exe"" SendThisStuffAsCommandLineOptions", vbHide)

 

Would run the exe, with those commands and hide it from view.

 

 

Shell("""C:\my.exe"" SendThisStuffAsCommandLineOptions")

 

would run it with command lines, and not change default view.

 

Shell("C:\my.exe")

 

would just run simple exe.

 

Steve

[cookie_monsta]

Hi Steve,

 

thanks for your prompt reply..

 

Do I need to copy the 3 .exe files into a particular folder where I am creating the VB project? (they are currently sitting on a network drive at the moment)

 

thanks,

 

Cookie

 

If it's just literally calling an exe:

 

It's shell("item"), and options etc.

 

e.g.

 

Shell("""C:\my.exe"" SendThisStuffAsCommandLineOptions", vbHide)

 

Would run the exe, with those commands and hide it from view.

 

 

Shell("""C:\my.exe"" SendThisStuffAsCommandLineOptions")

 

would run it with command lines, and not change default view.

 

Shell("C:\my.exe")

 

would just run simple exe.

 

Steve

[Steve21]

That's up to you. You can run it locally, or just put the UNC/local paths into the Shell which is my preferred method . (Assuming they have access anyway?)

 

It depends what your exe does I guess? Don't really see any reason to put it into the project, unless it's something you need to deploy out manually anyway?

 

Steve

[cookie_monsta]

All the exe does is to check is the correct SIMS client files are installed (if not it will run pulsar to do the upgrade) and then maps the correct drive across and then launches SIMS ready for the user to login.

 

Ive entered:

 

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles LGS.Click

Shell("\\nfs02\networks$\cookie\documents\visual studio 2010\Projects\SIMS\SIMS\LGS Sims Launcher V3.5.exe")

End Sub

 

And now it wont compile (no errors or warnings though )

 

That's up to you. You can run it locally, or just put the UNC/local paths into the Shell which is my preferred method . (Assuming they have access anyway?)

 

It depends what your exe does I guess? Don't really see any reason to put it into the project, unless it's something you need to deploy out manually anyway?

 

Steve

[Steve21]

How do you mean by it won't compile without warning/error?

 

As in what's not working? It'll always error out if it's not happy with something.

 

Steve

[mac_shinobi]

Would it help or make any difference if the UNC Path was mapped as a drive letter onto the local pc and then from there shell("X:\directory\file.exe")

 

???

[Steve21]

In terms of compiling it makes no difference. End of day you could try to compile it to run, ILikeJaffaCakes/%?£%?%£%?£%?£%??!!"$$ and it'll compile successfully Just wouldn't run the file.

 

Steve

[mac_shinobi]

Would using the Shell API vs the Shell function work better or give you any more functionality etc ( should be a pre made module etc that uses the Shell API and just call the relevant method / function etc to launch said exe etc ??

 

Just a thought .......

[matt40k]

If you contact your SIMS support team first, they would tell you that SIMS supports what your after out the box - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/45766-sims-net-multiple-connect-ini-files.html. If you just copy the shortcut, then add /CONNECT point it at connect.ini file for that school or create a connect.ini will all the options then when you click SIMS you'll get a drop-down. Just saying...

[mac_shinobi]

If you contact your SIMS support team first, they would tell you that SIMS supports what your after out the box - http://www.edugeek.net/forums/mis-systems/45766-sims-net-multiple-connect-ini-files.html. If you just copy the shortcut, then add /CONNECT point it at connect.ini file for that school or create a connect.ini will all the options then when you click SIMS you'll get a drop-down. Just saying...

 

Sounds better, after all why re-invent the wheel if it already gives you the option to sort it out that way.

[rj_mayer]

If your SIMS installations are always kept at the same level, you could just use the native connect.ini SIMS client config file to offer the user multiple options on launch. The choice is then represented as a drop down box under the username and password, upon launch of pulsar.exe. These could point at the three discrete SQL instances. We use this for development platforms quite a bit. Apologies if I've not understood correctly.