Get PID of application opening a non-exe file through cmd?

[maoyuusha]

        $iPID = Run(@comspec & ' /c start ' & "C:/Users/DEV/Desktop/123.mp3", '', @SW_HIDE)

So $iPID is the PID of the cmd launched. However what I want to get is the PID of the default application launched. Is there anyway to get it?

[maoyuusha]

For this example, it opens up groove music so I'd like to get the PID of the Groove Music application which opened the mp3 file.

[SlackerAl]

Check out 

ProcessList

You can run it after your run command for the name of your application. Sort the list to get them in PID sequence, I'm guessing the last process will be the highest PID (not guaranteed).

Alternatively (and more robustly) if your process takes a file name as an argument, change your Run line to avoid the whole cmd shell creation and execute the media player with the file as a command line option directly, then you will get the correct PID returned.

I also just saw this:

Which looks like a lot of effort for what you want.... I see it is pretty old and I've not used it. G'luck.

Edited December 18, 2019 by SlackerAl
Found child process function

[RTFC]

47 minutes ago, SlackerAl said:

Sort the list to get them in PID sequence, I'm guessing the last process will be the highest PID (not guaranteed).

This is flat-out wrong. On Windows, the algorithm to generate PIDs is intentionally undocumented, it may change from OS version to version, and unlike on *nix, it is NOT sequential.

[KaFu]

ProcessList + _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine() might work, but the initially command did not launch a media player for me (though I thought it should), maybe Win10 related?

Can't you just use ShellExecute()?

Edited December 18, 2019 by KaFu

[Nine]

13 minutes ago, KaFu said:

but the initially command did not launch a media player for me

Do not put your start file inside double quotes.  It is interpreted by start as a title...

[KaFu]

Did that, this does nothing for me, opens a command window titled with the path and file.

$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"')

 

[Nine]

As I said remove double quotes ^^

$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start ' & '123.mp3')

 

[Musashi]

This works for me :

; If the file or folder has a space in it, you must surround it with quotes.
; https://www.computerhope.com/starthlp.htm

Local $iPID, $sPath, $sFile
$sPath = @ScriptDir & '\' 
$sFile = '"Music 01.mp3"' ; ==> 'Music 01.mp3' would fail !
ConsoleWrite("> >>> " & $sPath & $sFile & @CRLF)
$iPID  = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c Start ' & $sPath & $sFile, '', @SW_HIDE)
MsgBox(262144, "Return :", "PID : " & $iPID & @CRLF & "Error : " & @error & @CRLF)

 

[Nine]

Ya it is because you $sPath is not embedded in double-quotes.  But it won't work if your @ScriptDir contains a white space...

And if you need to have double-quotes use this :

Local $iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "dummy title" ' & '"David Bowie StarMan.wav"')

 

Edited December 18, 2019 by Nine

[Musashi]

1 hour ago, Nine said:

But it won't work if your @ScriptDir contains a white space... And if you need to have double-quotes use this :

Local $iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "dummy title" ' & '"David Bowie StarMan.wav"')

 

Yes, the syntax is a little tricky .

START has a peculiarity involving double quotes around the first parameter. If the first parameter has double quotes it uses that as the optional TITLE for the new window.

You can also use /D :

Local $iPID, $sPath, $sFile

$sPath = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\Folder 01\"'
$sFile = '"Music 01.mp3"'
$iPID  = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c Start "" /D '  & $sPath & " " & $sFile, '', @SW_HIDE)
MsgBox(262144, "Return :", "PID : " & $iPID & @CRLF & "Error : " & @error & @CRLF)

 

[KaFu]

Ah, didn't know the special syntax, good to know :).

#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

$sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"'
$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "Titel" ' & $sFilename,"",@SW_HIDE)

Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch

$aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    if StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) Then
        MsgBox(0,"","PID=" & $aList[$i][0] & @crlf & @crlf & "Name=" & $aList[$i][1] & @crlf & @crlf & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]))
    endif
Next

 

[Musashi]

Hi @KaFu !

I'm probably already tired and missing something .

3 hours ago, KaFu said:

MsgBox(0,"","PID=" & $aList[$i][0] & @crlf & @crlf & "Name=" & $aList[$i][1] & @crlf ....

PID=" & $aList[$i][0] ==> according to ProcessList the PID has the index [$i][[1].

Name=" & $aList[$i][1] ==> according to ProcessList the Name has the index [$i][[0].

The .mp3 file is executed by the application associated with the .mp3 extension (in my case vlc.exe).

3 hours ago, KaFu said:

if StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) Then

This StringInStr will never come TRUE, as far as i can say.

 

#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

$sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\Music 01.mp3"'
$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "Titel" ' & $sFilename,"",@SW_HIDE)

ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ Filename     :  <" & $sFilename & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ PID Run(...) :  <" & $iPID & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch
$aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    If $aList[$i][0] = "vlc.exe" Then
        ConsoleWrite(">  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                     "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                     "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)

Would you be so kind to explain, what exactly you are trying to achieve? TIA 🙂

Edited December 18, 2019 by Musashi
typo

[KaFu]

Yep, confused PID and Name of process just by guessing / assuming :), but still your code reports this to me:

>  PID = <7812>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\_Data\!_Keep\AMT-Workbench_MPV-Test\123.mp3">

Maybe you have to increase sleep time (and remove the "vlc.exe" check, works for me without it)?

 

Edit:

#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

$sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"'
$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "Titel" ' & $sFilename,"",@SW_HIDE)

ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ Filename     :  <" & $sFilename & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ PID Run(...) :  <" & $iPID & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch
$aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    if StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) then
        ConsoleWrite(">  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                     "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                     "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)

Reports to me:

>  PID = <800>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\_Data\!_Keep\AMT-Workbench_MPV-Test\123.mp3">

Edited December 18, 2019 by KaFu

[maoyuusha]

2 hours ago, KaFu said:

Yep, confused PID and Name of process just by guessing / assuming :), but still your code reports this to me:

>  PID = <7812>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\_Data\!_Keep\AMT-Workbench_MPV-Test\123.mp3">

Maybe you have to increase sleep time (and remove the "vlc.exe" check, works for me without it)?

 

Edit:

#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

$sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"'
$iPID = Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start "Titel" ' & $sFilename,"",@SW_HIDE)

ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ Filename     :  <" & $sFilename & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ PID Run(...) :  <" & $iPID & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch
$aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    if StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) then
        ConsoleWrite(">  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                     "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                     "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)

Reports to me:

>  PID = <800>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\_Data\!_Keep\AMT-Workbench_MPV-Test\123.mp3">

Doesn't work for me, it reports
+ Filename     :  <"C:\Users\DEV\Desktop\123.mp3">
+ PID Run(...) :  <10608>
which I assume is still the CMD that launched since taskkill /PID 10608 outputs , `The process "11984" is not found.`

 

13 hours ago, SlackerAl said:

Check out 

ProcessList

You can run it after your run command for the name of your application. Sort the list to get them in PID sequence, I'm guessing the last process will be the highest PID (not guaranteed).

Alternatively (and more robustly) if your process takes a file name as an argument, change your Run line to avoid the whole cmd shell creation and execute the media player with the file as a command line option directly, then you will get the correct PID returned.

I also just saw this:

Which looks like a lot of effort for what you want.... I see it is pretty old and I've not used it. G'luck.

I have tried that UDF but it just opens up a bunch of Excel-ish spreadsheet with a bunch of processes in it when using _ChildProcess($PID)

[maoyuusha]

Sorry I meant process 10608 is not found, im blind

Just now, maoyuusha said:

Doesn't work for me, it reports
+ Filename     :  <"C:\Users\DEV\Desktop\123.mp3">
+ PID Run(...) :  <10608>
which I assume is still the CMD that launched since taskkill /PID 10608 outputs , `The process "11984" is not found.`

 

I have tried that UDF but it just opens up a bunch of Excel-ish spreadsheet with a bunch of processes in it when using _ChildProcess($PID)

 

[Musashi]

2 hours ago, KaFu said:

[...] but still your code reports this to me:

>  PID = <7812>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\_Data\!_Keep\AMT-Workbench_MPV-Test\123.mp3">

Maybe you have to increase sleep time (and remove the "vlc.exe" check, works for me without it)?

I executed your script, but the CommandLine is still empty - Sleep(5000).

I narrowed the script down to the plain process list. The file 123.mp3 was previously started with VLC (the VLC window is open and the music is running). That means "Run(@ComSpec & ' /c start ..." doesn't matter anymore.

#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

Local $aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    ConsoleWrite("!  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                 "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                 "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
Next

This is the output (abbreviated) :

Spoiler

==> [...]

!  PID = <3412>   Name = <firefox.exe>   CommandLine = <>
!  PID = <936>   Name = <SciTE.exe>   CommandLine = <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\Test-KaFu-Start01.au3">
!  PID = <4796>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <>
!  PID = <128>   Name = <Autoit3wrapper.exe>   CommandLine = </run /prod /ErrorStdOut /in "C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\Test-MU-Start02.au3" /UserParams>
!  PID = <2744>   Name = <AutoIt3.exe>   CommandLine = </ErrorStdOut "C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\Test-MU-Start02.au3">

I found the problem, my goodness, I'm stupid . #AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64 = Y has solved the problem.

+ Filename     :  <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">
+ PID Run(...) :  <1224>
+  PID = <2516>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <--started-from-file "C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">

[maoyuusha]

12 hours ago, KaFu said:

ProcessList + _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine() might work, but the initially command did not launch a media player for me (though I thought it should), maybe Win10 related?

Can't you just use ShellExecute()?

I can't use ShellExecute() since in this particular use case, I still need the PID of the cmd to close it in case the user inputs a non-existing file to close the error window automatically. ShellExecute is unable to do that and the script just pauses until the user closes the error window. Unless theres an option to get the PID of both cmd and the opened process that I am unaware of.

[Musashi]

11 minutes ago, maoyuusha said:

I can't use ShellExecute() since in this particular use case, I still need the PID of the cmd to close it in case the user inputs a non-existing file to close the error window automatically. ShellExecute is unable to do that and the script just pauses until the user closes the error window. Unless theres an option to get the PID of both cmd and the opened process that I am unaware of.

Assuming the program is installed in @ProgramFilesDir\... you can also call the .mp3 like this :

#AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64 = Y ; <== 32-Bit = N
#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

Local $sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"'
Local $iPID = Run(@ProgramFilesDir & '\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe ' & $sFilename , "",@SW_HIDE)

ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ Filename     :  <" & $sFilename & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ PID Run(...) :  <" & $iPID & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch

Local $aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    If StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) then
        ConsoleWrite("+  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                     "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                     "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)

Output :

< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Filename     :  <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">
+ PID Run(...) :  <4184>
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  PID = <4184>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@maoyuusha ; The problem with terminating VLC in case of an error still has to be solved. But I am too tired for that now 😴.

[maoyuusha]

8 minutes ago, Musashi said:

Assuming the program is installed in @ProgramFilesDir\... you can also call the .mp3 like this :

#AutoIt3Wrapper_UseX64 = Y ; <== 32-Bit = N
#include <Array.au3>
#include <WinAPIProc.au3>

Local $sFilename = '"' & @ScriptDir & '\123.mp3"'
Local $iPID = Run(@ProgramFilesDir & '\VideoLAN\VLC\VLC.exe ' & $sFilename , "",@SW_HIDE)

ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ Filename     :  <" & $sFilename & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("+ PID Run(...) :  <" & $iPID & ">" & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)
Sleep(2000) ; wait for the default program to launch

Local $aList = ProcessList()
For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
    If StringInStr(_WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]),$sFilename) then
        ConsoleWrite("+  PID = <" & $aList[$i][1] & ">" & _
                     "   Name = <" & $aList[$i][0] & ">" & _
                     "   CommandLine = <" & _WinAPI_GetProcessCommandLine($aList[$i][1]) & ">" & @CRLF)
    EndIf
Next
ConsoleWrite("< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------" & @CRLF)

Output :

< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ Filename     :  <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">
+ PID Run(...) :  <4184>
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  PID = <4184>   Name = <vlc.exe>   CommandLine = <"C:\AutoIt\Projekte\Testprogramme\123.mp3">
< ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

@maoyuusha ; The problem with terminating VLC in case of an error still has to be solved. But I am too tired for that now 😴.

I cant pre-determine which music player its gonna open.