Search for *.exe(or *.txt) and than start them

Hello,

is is possible to make a progam which search for *.exe or *.txt etc files on the hard drive.? And than save the results in a variable to start them.
I have also written a Code which search for the three *.exe files,
which has been copied to C:\ (Explorer.exe, Calc.exe, Mediaplay.exe). but the program doesn´t start the three programs. :(

thanks

JoJo

Quote:

---

#include <stdio.h>
#include <dir.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <process.h>


void main(void)
{
struct ffblk ffblk;
int done;
printf("Directory listing of *.exe\n");
done = findfirst("\\*.exe",&ffblk,0);
while (!done)
{
printf(" %s\n", ffblk.ff_name);
done = findnext(&ffblk);
spawnlp(P_WAIT, "\\*.exe", "\\*.exe");
}

getch();
}

---

Well, if you've got the search written, you can use functions in the FAQ for starting your exe's

what FAQ do you mean..from cprogramming? I don´t find an FAQ there.

JoJo

www.cprogramming.com/boardfaq.html

There's a link to it at the bottom of the page (Board FAQ)... Not the most descriptive name, but whaddyagonnado?

ok i found it thanks, and the FAQ show how i have to use the spawn* functions...but how can i combine the spawn* function with the search function to start the *.exe files.
in other words, whats wrong with my Code....(maybe the whole code..mmhpf) :confused:

JoJo

Just an idea...

Have your search function return the filename as a variable, and then just spawn the variable.

yes that kind of idea i also have got, but the findnext() function saves the results in ffblk or not?

> but the findnext() function saves the results in ffblk or not?
Yes (didn't you finish reading the manual page?)

ffblk.ff_name perhaps

> void main(void)
int main

yuuuuhhu it works thanks, thanks..thanks a lot!!!! :)

this is the new code with your great help:

Quote:

---

#include <stdio.h>
#include <dir.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <process.h>


int main(void)
{
struct ffblk ffblk;
int done;
printf("Directory listing of *.exe\n");
done = findfirst("*.exe",&ffblk,0);
while (!done)
{
printf(" %s\n", ffblk.ff_name);
done = findnext(&ffblk);
spawnlp(P_WAIT, ffblk.ff_name, ffblk.ff_name , NULL);
}
getch();
}

---

But there is another question i have: Hao can i search the whole hard-drive? With :

Quote:

---

done = findfirst("*.exe",&ffblk,0);

---

it search only in the working directory and with ("\\*.exe"...); it search under C:\

thanks

JoJo

> it search only in the working directory and with ("\\*.exe"...); it search under C:\
1. change the search to "*.*"
2. to search a directory tree, you need to look at the attributes (one of the members of ffblk). This has a bit set if the current entry is a directory. If its a directory, you need to "chdir" to that directory and start a new search.
This makes for a nice recursive function.

> done = findfirst("*.exe",&ffblk,0);
You also need to change the 3rd parameter to indicate the types of things you want to seach for. 0 just means regular files IIRC.

thanks for your help i will try it tomorrow, cause it´s night in germany :o ....i will post again how it works...good night :)

thanks

JoJo