How To Close Shelled Process When Finished under Windows 95/98/Me (145701)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Learning Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 5.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition for Windows 6.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Standard Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Professional Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 16-bit, for Windows 4.0
  • Microsoft Visual Basic Enterprise Edition, 32-bit, for Windows 4.0
This article was previously published under Q145701

SUMMARY

When the Visual Basic Shell command is used to execute a batch file or MS- DOS program on Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me, the MS-DOS window remains open by default when the program is done executing. Under Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and Windows NT 3.51, the MS-DOS window closes by default when the program is done executing. This article shows how to force Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me to close the MS-DOS window when the program is done executing.

MORE INFORMATION

To force Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me to close the MS-DOS window you can use the Visual Basic Shell function with the /C option of COMMAND.COM. The /C option of COMMAND.COM will close the MS-DOS window under Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me. The Visual Basic syntax for using the /C option of COMMAND.COM to execute a MS-DOS program is as follows where <pathname> is the path and name of the program to execute and any command line options for it: 
   h = Shell("COMMAND.COM /C <pathname>")

Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and Windows NT 3.51 will still behave the same if you use the /C option of COMMAND.COM. So, you can use this technique without having to check which operating system the program is running on.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:6/29/2004
Keywords:kbhowto KB145701
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