help with loading stuff automatically from command line

[jonny5]

i am trying to figure out how i can set everything up so i can shell windows to load straight into a game that needs to be started from command line....

is there an easy way to do this?

i would like this to start up right away on its own and if possible hide all windows stuff....if i can make some kind of script(?) to do the command line stuff automatically on startup i should be able to shell it on my own with an app i have.....

any ideas?

i have it all working in my cab, i just want to try and avoid the command line because it means i have to at least hook up a mouse to use the onscreen keyboard....this is a pain....

if i cant shell it its not the end of the world, but id really like to automate the command line so i just turn on the PC, turn on the cab and it auto loads straight into the game

[emphatic]

Is it a game that just needs to be run to start (i.e. get you into the games menus)?

The creator of the GameEx frontend has an application called Instant Sheller, just download that, unpack it and follow the directions (point the application to the .exe of the game). http://www.gameex.net/Community/Instant ... fault.aspx

If you want to uninstall it, you just exit the game with a keyboard attached, then do a ctrl+alt+delete, open task manager and start a new task in the "file" menu (run explorer.exe), browse to the Instant Sheller .exe, and run it then press the "undo" button.

[jonny5]

Is it a game that just needs to be run to start (i.e. get you into the games menus)?

The creator of the GameEx frontend has an application called Instant Sheller, just download that, unpack it and follow the directions (point the application to the .exe of the game). http://www.gameex.net/Community/Instant ... fault.aspx

If you want to uninstall it, you just exit the game with a keyboard attached, then do a ctrl+alt+delete, open task manager and start a new task in the "file" menu (run explorer.exe), browse to the Instant Sheller .exe, and run it then press the "undo" button.

ya that is exactly what i plan to use, but first i need to find a way of automating the command line.....you must load this game with a loader from command line, so unless i can make something to automate that process i cant shell it...

the shelling part is an afterthought....my main goal right now is to figure out how to avoid the command line with some sort of automated solution

thanx tho emph

[DC906270]

open the start menu, type "RUN" into the search box (underneath "all programs") at the bottom. this should open the RUN box, which lets you type your command line prompt.

edit : oop, think i misinterpreted your question. theres probably a way to do that, but i cant help you, sorry.

[antron]

what if you right-click on the desktop and choose create shortcut, then choose the exe. then edit the shortcut the include all the options you need. then drag the shortcut into the startup folder.

you will stil see windows boot, I think there are more advanced ways to hide that. windows is the worst os you could do this with. something will go wrong (probably a pop-up), and you will have to get a mouse out to fix it.

[jonny5]

what if you right-click on the desktop and choose create shortcut, then choose the exe. then edit the shortcut the include all the options you need. then drag the shortcut into the startup folder.

you will stil see windows boot, I think there are more advanced ways to hide that. windows is the worst os you could do this with. something will go wrong (probably a pop-up), and you will have to get a mouse out to fix it.

tried this but the problem is it involves 2 .exe files

this is what i need to type once im in the right folder, partly edited for safeties sake

"xxxxx_loader.exe game.exe".....minus the quotations and the 'xxxxx part is somthing else

from the command line i just type that once im in the right directory and hit enter and it loads

when i try to do as antron suggested it says its not a valid target?

any ideas?

[emphatic]

You can do this with a (bunch of) .bat file(s).

Open Notepad and paste the below code in and save as auto.bat (make sure to choose "show all extensions" in the save as prompt instead of "text document"). This is the only file you'll need to run:

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
loader.bat
game.bat
exit

In the same directory, create another .bat file and name that loader.bat with the name of your loader.exe corrected.

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
"c:\Program Files\path to xxxxx_loader.exe"
exit

Then the last .bat file, called game.bat (:

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
"c:\Program Files\path to game.exe"
exit

Try the auto.bat file and hopefully it'll load everything like you want to. Been out of the frontend "business" for a while now, so I'm a bit rusty.

[jonny5]

You can do this with a (bunch of) .bat file(s).

Open Notepad and paste the below code in and save as auto.bat (make sure to choose "show all extensions" in the save as prompt instead of "text document"). This is the only file you'll need to run:

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
loader.bat
game.bat
exit

In the same directory, create another .bat file and name that loader.bat with the name of your loader.exe corrected.

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
"c:\Program Files\path to xxxxx_loader.exe"
exit

Then the last .bat file, called game.bat (:

Code: Select all

ECHO OFF
"c:\Program Files\path to game.exe"
exit

Try the auto.bat file and hopefully it'll load everything like you want to. Been out of the frontend "business" for a while now, so I'm a bit rusty.

this is exactly what i was looking for

awesome....i will try this out this evening....expect a PM if i have issues

cuz ya...once i have the auto.bat i should be able to use that with the instant sheller

huge help as always emph!

thanx buddy

[Ex-Cyber]

I don't see why it can't just be a single .cmd script (e.g. "launchgame.cmd" containing something like

Code: Select all

cd "c:\path\to\game\"
start xxxxx_loader.exe game.exe
exit

And just create a shortcut to that.

emph: it looks like you're trying to launch the two .exe files separately; I think what's supposed to happen is that one .exe is actually the argument to the other (i.e. xxxxx_loader.exe is a launcher that e.g. wraps syscalls or redirects DLL loads for game.exe)

[jonny5]

I don't see why it can't just be a single .cmd script (e.g. "launchgame.cmd" containing something like

Code: Select all

cd "c:\path\to\game\"
start xxxxx_loader.exe game.exe
exit

And just create a shortcut to that.

emph: it looks like you're trying to launch the two .exe files separately; I think what's supposed to happen is that one .exe is actually the argument to the other (i.e. xxxxx_loader.exe is a launcher that e.g. wraps syscalls or redirects DLL loads for game.exe)

ya i just noticed that too....what you suggest, Ex-Cyber, sounds more in line with what i was thinking....

i will try it out when i get home and post back with findings

if this works, kisses for everyone

[jonny5]

blam...that did the trick...

sadly i cant use it to run on start up because it loads before my graphics card has a chance to and the game wont load

so i configured a hot key to load the launchgame.cmd and away we go

thanx for the help guys

[Ex-Cyber]

It might work to add this as the top line of the script:

Code: Select all

timeout /t 10

(where you can change "10" to however many seconds is necessary)

If there's a problem with accidentally skipping the delay, you can change it to

Code: Select all

timeout /nobreak /t 10

This allows CTRL+C to abort but otherwise doesn't respond to the keyboard.

[jonny5]

It might work to add this as the top line of the script:

Code: Select all

timeout /t 10

(where you can change "10" to however many seconds is necessary)

and this would delay its startup as necessary?

hmmm...i will try that out tomorrow evening...already packed it up for the night

thanx for all your help