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Re: Problem with "Run" command on WindowsNT

• To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
• Subject: [mg18592] Re: [mg18543] Problem with "Run" command on WindowsNT
• From: John Fultz <jfultz at wolfram.com>
• Date: Tue, 13 Jul 1999 01:01:26 -0400
• Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com

The reason for the appearance of the DOS window is that commands like
"dir" can not be run without a console.  "dir" is not a reference to
some program called "dir.exe", but is a reference to a shell command
which only makes sense when executed inside 'cmd.exe' (NT's command
shell...i.e. the window you are seeing) or something closely
equivalent.

If what you're looking for is a file listing in Mathematica, then I
suggest you look up the appropriate Mathematica file commands instead
(see, for example, the Mathematica function, FileNames[]).

There is a legitimate complaint, however, although your example doesn't
get at it.  Sometimes, people want to execute windowed programs (not
shell commands or console programs) using the Run[] command.  However,
this too pops up a console window.  There is no particular reason
for it to do so.  It's not harmful, but it can be distracting.

In a future release, Mathematica will launch shell commands in console
windows, and windowed programs with no console window.  However, I
don't believe this change made it into version 4.

Sincerely,

John Fultz
jfultz at wolfram.com
Front End Group
Wolfram Research, Inc.

> Hello 
> 
> On Mathematica 3.0 on windowsNT, when I type 
> In[1]:= Run["dir"]
> 
> a dos window appear briefly and disapear immediatly
> out[1]:= 0
> 
> Does anyone knows how to suppress the appearance of this windows?
> Is it different in Mathematica 4.0?
> 
> Tanks for your help 
> 
> Tanguy Risset
> -- 
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