I would like to open and close an application using a filemaker script (I am using windows XP). I'm assuming you have to use a VB script. So I am wondering if someone can give me an example code of how to open and close an application, or point me to some online literature so I can get myself up to speed.

Thanks

Jeff England

Send Event script step (Windows) should serve. The help documents explain its use. Keep in mind that if ever distribute to an Apple machine, you have to test for this...

Most applications can be launched with a command line and that's where the Send Event can help. You can specify a valid command line and it will work. For closing an app it may be more difficult, check the app's documentation to see if there is a command line switch for that.

You can also use a VB script, check out my website for some resources on how to get started creating and executing a VB script from inside FM.

Let us know how it goes!

Alrighty thanks for the info guys

my problem is closing the app but i'll take a look at your site, thanks for the link.

Jeff England

One way of closing an app is to use VBscript's "AppActivate" to bring it forward, followed by a SendKeys command sending ALT-F4 (the universal command for closing an app). Don't forget to handle any prompts that the other app might throw up (like saving, "are you sure",...)