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I have created a task on Windows Task Scheduler to run a command-line app everytime I lock this machine. It works like a charm.
My question is: Is it possible to see the Command Prompt window when I unlock?
Note: This command line app will never finish by itself. It has to be stopped manually.
douglaslps
Posted 2013-12-20T09:59:01.997
Reputation: 1 240
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We were not exactly sure about the behavior of myApp.exe.
When starting a cmd.exe and execute myApp.exe, if it directly returns to the C-prompt, it is a "background" app. (i.e. it goes directly to the background). In that case, if you use myApp.exe directly in the Task-scheduler, there is no prompt to return to. (That appears to be the case here)
You can keep the prompt open if you start cmd.exe in the Task-Scheduler. You can do that by putting cmd.exe in the run-line-box and /K myApp.exe in the parameter-box. You will be returned to the C-prompt after unlocking. In that prompt you can use TASKKILL /F /IM myApp.exe.exe /T to kill myApp.exe (or if the myApp.exe has a kill-switch, use that).
For others using an app which doesn't return to the C-prompt:
If the myApp.exe does have output in cmd.exe and does not return to the C-prompt you can use /C myApp.exe. Because myApp.exe will keep the prompt open. A Ctrl+C will likely terminate myApp.exe and also exit the prompt.
If /K was used in this case you will be returned to the C-prompt (having to do an extra exit-command to exit the prompt).
Note for CMD.EXE:
/C Carries out the command specified by string and then terminates
/K Carries out the command specified by string but remains
Rik
Posted 2013-12-20T09:59:01.997
Reputation: 11 800
@douglaslps Mmm, you should still see the prompt if you unlock the station. At least i tried it here with
cmd.exe. If i put that in aon lock workstationand unlock it thecmd.exeis still visible. What user-level did you use? "run only as user is logged on" and not "run with highest priv." and not "hidden"? BTW You should remove theIs it possible to stop the task automatically when I unlock?from your question. If you stop the task automatically it will disappear. – Rik – 2013-12-20T11:45:31.953CMD remains visible for me when I log off and on... – Dave – 2013-12-20T11:46:24.637
Should I run cmd.exe instead of myApp.exe directly? How can I pass myApp as argument to cmd.exe? – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T11:48:12.823
1@rik It is
run only as user is logged onandnot hidden. – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T11:49:45.360@douglaslps Weird. Are you sure your app is still running? Could you see under which user (in taskmanager)? And could you create a new one with just
cmd.exeto see if that one stays on screen after unlocking? If runningmyApp.exegives you a prompt it should stay after locking and unlocking socmd.exewouldn't be needed for starting it in task scheduler. But you should test if it gives you a prompt when running it. – Rik – 2013-12-20T11:53:29.777What is MyApp.exe? I thought this issue was with Command Prompt? If you're using another program to launch the command prompt then there could be logic inside which accounts for the behaviour – Dave – 2013-12-20T11:55:16.033
Maybe I'm having a hard time to explain what myApp.exe is. If I start a Cmd I can use it to lauch MyApp.exe. It is just a command-line mode app. @Rik yes, I know the app is still running because the CPU is being fully used and and the task status is shown as Running. – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T11:59:28.943
@douglaslps If you start
myApp.exedirectly from the Windows Explorer (so not viacmd.exe) do you still get the prompt (black cmd-screen)? If not then you need to startmyApp.exewithcmd.exein your task scheduler. You can do that by puttingcmd.exein the run-line-box and/C myApp.exein the parameter-box. – Rik – 2013-12-20T12:03:02.263@douglaslps If, on the other hand, in the
cmd.exeyou startmyApp.exeand you get a C-prompt directly back, themyApp.exeis not a program that echos anything back to the prompt and goes directly in the background. In that case there is no need to go back to that prompt because there is nothing to see. – Rik – 2013-12-20T12:05:28.990@DaveRook MyApp.exe has a endless loop so it will keep running until I kill it. I want both the Command Prompt visible and MyApp.exe running on it. – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T12:06:48.723
@Rik I think you nailled it. I need to start cmd.exe and use myApp.exe as a parameter. I would like to thank you for that. I will offer a bounty for this question (I can only do it in 2 days) so please post your answer and I will reward you. BTW, I think /C will stop the terminal while /K will keep it running. – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T12:09:27.687
@DaveRook yes. But I know MyApp.exe is still running. – douglaslps – 2013-12-20T12:11:51.023
1@douglaslps No need for a bounty. If you're happy with the answer you can upvote and accept it. – Rik – 2013-12-20T12:43:38.390