Batch file called from Javascript/XPCOM doesn't show command prompt window

I am calling a batch file from Javascript in this fashion:

function runBatch(){
    var exe = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/file/local;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
    exe.initWithPath("C:\\test.bat");
    var run = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/process/util;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProcess);
    run.init(exe);
    var parameters = ["hi"];
    run.run(false, parameters,parameters.length);
}

my test batch file is:

echo on
echo %1 
pause
exit

Each time I call a batch file, however, the command prompt is not displayed, as it would be if I simply ran the batch file from the desktop. How can I remedy this and display a command prompt for the batch file?

Edit To be clear, the cmd.exe process is launched - I can see it in the task bar. But no window gets displayed. This snippet behaves similarly:

function runCmd(){  
var exe = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/file/local;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
exe.initWithPath("C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe");
var run = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/process/util;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProcess);
run.init(exe);
run.run(false, null,0);
}

From stackoverflow

• I'd try it with a more explicit approach:

  exe.initWithPath("cmd.exe /C \"C:\\test.bat\"");
  

  From the cmd.exe help screen:

  /C      Carries out the command specified by string and then terminates
  

  pc1oad1etter : Tried that, and it doesn't work either. Actually, just like in my example, it *does* launch cmd.exe - but no window is visible.

• Did you try using the launch method of nsiLocalFile?

  function runBatch(){
      var exe = Components.classes['@mozilla.org/file/local;1'].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsILocalFile);
      exe.initWithPath("C:\\test.bat");
      exe.launch();
  }
  

  This should have "the same effect as if you double-clicked the file."

  pc1oad1etter : Yes. - this will open and show the window but will not let me pass parameters/arguments (which I failed to mention in my question)

  pc1oad1etter : Which led me to ... create a shortcut that has the parameters defined, and I can call the shortcut using nsiLocalFile... and the batch files gets run. But I want to have the parameters be dynamic.

  ng.mangine : Is there a way to create a shortcut on the fly?

• The only solution I've heard so far (that should work, although I haven't done it yet, comes from Mook in the Mozilla xulrunner IRC channel:

  create a temporary batch file, writing in the batch file to call and arguments to pass it. then execute the temporary batch file.

  e.g.

  f = fopen("temp.bat"); 
  fprintf(f, "other.bat 1 2 3 4 5"); 
  fclose(f); 
  exec("temp.bat");
  

  not very elegant :-) but it should work.

• Pfft, very ugly code.. A much nicer trick is to use Win.com to spawn a 16bit subsystem of the command prompt. Win.com will send the console to the right virtual terminal, showing you the output.

  var lPath = getWorkingDir.path + "\..\..\WINDOWS\system32\win.com"; lFile.initWithPath(lPath); var process = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/process/util;1"].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProcess); process.init(lFile); var args = ["cmd.exe"]; process.run(false, args, args.length);

  Nicer, and works :)

• You could try to use cmd /c start C:\test.bat. My guess would be, even if the first cmd process gets spawned without a window, the one that executes the batch (called by the start command) gets its window.

• This code snippet seems to work fine. Of course, you have to change D:\Windows\system32\ to path to cmd.exe in your operation system.

  const FileFactory = new Components.Constructor("@mozilla.org/file/local;1","nsILocalFile","initWithPath");
  var str_LocalProgram = "D:\\Windows\\system32\\cmd.exe";
  var obj_Program = new FileFactory(str_LocalProgram); 
  var process = Components.classes["@mozilla.org/process/util;1"].createInstance(Components.interfaces.nsIProcess);
  process.init(obj_Program);
  var args = ["/C", "regedit.exe"];
  process.run(true, args, args.length);
  

• Nothing is use full for me