Adding a EXE file into yours and running it

Mirror

Adding a EXE file into yours and running it (Views: 300)

Problem/Question/Abstract:

How can I put an EXE file into my application and run it?

Answer:

1) Create file "hearts.rc"

2) Insert following text in that file:
   "TESTFILE EXEFILE \Mshearts.exe"
   Mshearts.exe -> Mshearts from Windows

3) Compile this file with brcc32.exe, which is located in your
   "\Borland\Delphi\Bin" directory by writing
   following command: "brcc32 -32 \hearts.rc"

Now you should have file "hearts.RES". How to add it to your application:

1) Copy "hearts.RES" to your project directory

2) Add ShellApi to USES
   To global vars add "Hearts:String";
   Next add to project:

{$R HEARTS.RES}

function GetTempDir: string;
var
  Buffer: array[0..MAX_PATH] of Char;
begin
  GetTempPath(Sizeof(Buffer) - 1, Buffer);
  result := StrPas(Buffer);
end;

procedure ExtractRes(ResType, ResName, ResNewName: string);
var
  Res: TResourceStream;
begin
  Res := TResourceStream.Create(Hinstance, Resname, Pchar(ResType));
  try
    Res.SavetoFile(ResNewName);
  finally
    Res.Free;
  end;
end;

procedure ShellExecute_AndWait(FileName: string);
var
  exInfo: TShellExecuteInfo;
  Ph: DWORD;
begin
  FillChar(exInfo, Sizeof(exInfo), 0);
  with exInfo do
  begin
    cbSize := Sizeof(exInfo);
    fMask := SEE_MASK_NOCLOSEPROCESS or SEE_MASK_FLAG_DDEWAIT;
    Wnd := GetActiveWindow();
    ExInfo.lpVerb := 'open';
    lpFile := PChar(FileName);
    nShow := SW_SHOWNORMAL;
  end;
  if ShellExecuteEx(@exInfo) then
  begin
    Ph := exInfo.HProcess;
  end
  else
  begin
    ShowMessage(SysErrorMessage(GetLastError));
    exit;
  end;
  while WaitForSingleObject(ExInfo.hProcess, 50) <> WAIT_OBJECT_0 do
    Application.ProcessMessages;
  CloseHandle(Ph);
end;

3) Add a Button on the form and to its OnClick event put this:

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  ExtractRes('EXEFILE', 'TESTFILE', Hearts);
  if FileExists(Hearts) then
  begin
    ShellExecute_AndWait(Hearts);
    ShowMessage('Hearts finished');
    DeleteFile(Hearts);
  end;
end;

4) To OnCreate event of form put this:

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  Hearts := GetTempDir + 'Hearts_FROM_RES.EXE';
end;

5) Run program and click the button

<< Back to main page