This is slightly off topic but is related to computer administration and automating tasts.

Does anyone know how to close a program using a bat file? Is it even possible?

@gwaihir - I tried O&O and it is ok - I think I remember it having a lot of different ways of defraggin the HD depending on what your purpose was, ie. server/storage/A/V, etc. However I think in some study they compared O&O to Diskeeper and for the majority of cases they were about equal - i don't think there is any big difference.

@Jen
I think it depends on which OS you run - Windows keeps knocking off certain commands (like CHOICE) and implementing new ones.
If you have WinXP you can use the Taskkill comand, run cmd and type in taskkill /?
If you have Win2k you can try the 'exit' command - not sure how your program will like it though - its not an elegant closure sometimes.
You also have the option of using the WSH (windows script hosting). Take the following code

[/CODE]dim shell

set shell=CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

shell.Run "C:\winnt\system32\notepad.exe"

do while(shell.AppActivate("Untitled - Notepad")=FALSE)
wscript.sleep 200
loop

shell.Sendkeys "HELLO WORLD" 'Write Hello world
wscript.sleep 1999 'wait

Shell.Sendkeys "{Enter}" 'new line

shell.Sendkeys "ANYONE THERE?" 'write anyone there?
wscript.sleep 1999 'wait

shell.Sendkeys "%{f4}" 'send alt-F4 to close the application
wscript.sleep 1999 'wait

shell.Sendkeys "%N" 'send Alt-N - select not to save file


wscript.sleep 1999 'sleep however long necessary to complete the run
'Again you will have to figure this one out
[CODE]

Open up a new text document in Notepad and save it as something like 'Test1.vbs' - you need the vbs ending for visual basic script
then just run the script - if you have an antivirus you might get a warning - just allow the whole script - (then I'll have all your bank information - ha-ha-ha )
You don't have to touch or click anything - the script will open notepad and close it - very simple. This is set for Windows 2000 - for XP just change 'winnt' to 'windows' assuming your OS is on the C: drive
As you'll see the wsh is a bit more powerful than just the command line batch files. Hope it helps

TwoJ - You are the best !!!

This is exactly what I wanted. Can you please tell me how to change this script so it opens VCool for about 2 seconds and then closes it again (without changing any of VCools settings). I have the VCool program in c:\program files\vcool\vcool.exe

Thank you so much

I modded the script and came up with this!



This script will open VCool, but because VCool opens minimised in the system tray, it does not close. What can be done here?

Thanks for the help

We'll see what you think of me when I have drained your bank account (Ha-ha-ha)

Glad to help Jen

Since I don't have it installed I can't say for sure but I just took a quick look on their site. It seems they have a hotkey for getting the main window

<ctrl>+<alt>+v
says it should bring up the main window
I guess the script would look like this

The timing you'll have to figure out just change the value in the "wscript.sleep 1999 'wait" line
Not too sure about the combination ^%v - i think it should work

Edit: the thing is case sensitive so V -> v
checked in Word and that combination should work ok
let me know

Hi

Thanks for the updated script. However, if does not work

It does the same as the script I modded, only opens VCool ???

If it opens vcool then you just have to determine the actual keystrokes needed to close the program.
It is pretty hard to determin that without installing the program which I can't do at the moment
It may be necessary to open the file menu and then hit the Alt-x to exit.

if shell.Sendkeys "^%v" can open the program to being the active window
then maybe you need next;

shell.Sendkeys "%" 'activate toolbar
shell.Sendkeys "fx" 'file menu -> eXit

and you can take out the shell.Sendkeys "%x" 'send Alt-x to exit program
line since it will be achompished with the 2 lines above

hope that works

Edit - added descriptions

When it loads up, it loads up minimised in the system tray.

Thanks for the help

JEN, I don't know what exactly you want to do (my guess: switch VCool on/of to get a decent cooling and good performance for some folding@home like application as well), but maybe this helps (from VCool helpfile):

I seem to have a problem with my VCool, I have tried different versions, tried re-installing and everything, but the problem still persists.

The problem is that VCool's "driver ldle loop" only works when I start the program and then exit it ???

This means, each time I start my computer, I have to manually start VCool and then manually exit it, to get it to work properly. (This is why I posted in this thread - e.g. automating a tast )

This is why I original asked about a batch file, but TwoJ came up with a much better solution, which I think just needs to be fine tuned.

If anyone has anyother suggestions on how to get VCool to work properly, please let me know.

Thanks

What happens if you don't start VCool with autostart but later manually - do you still have to close and re-start it to make it work?

Yes

I see.And probably disabling and re-enabling Idle loop as it could be done using commandline switches doesn't help either?
Have you asked at VCool Board?

Well tried to run it on my computer Jen but it keeps giving the error that the vcool.sys service cannot start. So I can't really try it on my computer.

You should try running it (as I understand when you run it, it will be in the system tray), and then try to open it with the Hot Key combination. On their webpage it looks as it might be a capitol V and not lower case v.
Try both and determine if you can open it with that hotkey combination (not sure but you might have to disable the icon for it)
If you can open it with the hotkey combination then just plug that sequence into the script.

Hope it works better for you then it did for me

Split from Automating Tasks thread.
________________________________

Here (VCool 1.7) Ctrl-Alt-v just removes the ikon from the task bar, but the process is still running (Ctrl-Alt-V doesn't do anything), so I think this hotkey doesn't do what's needed here.

.\pskill.exe <whatever>
http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware...e/pstools.shtml

Ack - thread split

Sounds like that program still has some bugs in it, on their webpage it said that Ctrl-Alt-V is suppose to bring up the main window.

Anyhow _Shorty's contribution I think should work.

I suppose ultimately you could go full automation and install AutoMate since it is more robust in controlling programs, but it seems a little overkill.

Looks like I will have to try pskill.exe, thanks shorty!

@ TwoJ - you seem to be the scripting expert here I don't supposed you could modify it so it used pskill.exe to kill VCool, could ya!!!

Yes I could install automate, but I want to keep it as simple as possible