> njuneardave wrote:
> > Hi,  I have an application that will run a method depending on whether
> > or not there is an instance of MS Word currently open.
> >
> > How do I determine whether or not an executable from another program is
> > running?  I am new to VB, but I suspect that this should definitely be
> > 5 lines or less.
>
> Well...  One way with VB.NET would be to use the GetObject method.
> Word is an automation server - and if it's running GetObject will
> return a valid reference to it.  If word isn't running then GetObject
> will throw an exception.  So, you can actually do this in one line of
> code:
>
> Dim wordObject As Object = GetObject (Class:="Word.Application")
>
> --
> Tom Shelton

> Cool, Tom.  Thanks!!
>
> I guess I should have used a little less abstraction in this case,
> though.  Using MS Word was a prelim test.  I actually want to test for
> the existence of an executable that I made myself called,
> "Spectrum.exe".    I first opened the application using:
>
> System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Spectrum.exe")
>
>
> Now, later in the code, I need to test if my Spectrum.exe is currently
> running.  Sorry about the abstraction.... I didn't think that it would
> play a major role =P  Anyway, any new tips?
>
>
> Thanks so much for the help!

> njuneardave wrote:
> > Cool, Tom.  Thanks!!
> >
> > I guess I should have used a little less abstraction in this case,
> > though.  Using MS Word was a prelim test.  I actually want to test for
> > the existence of an executable that I made myself called,
> > "Spectrum.exe".    I first opened the application using:
> >
> > System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("Spectrum.exe")
> >
> >
> > Now, later in the code, I need to test if my Spectrum.exe is currently
> > running.  Sorry about the abstraction.... I didn't think that it would
> > play a major role =P  Anyway, any new tips?
> >
> >
> > Thanks so much for the help!
>
> Sure, save the reference to the process that is returned by
> Process.Start.  Then you can test and see if it is running at
> anytime...  Look at the process classes HasExited property.  It is also
> possible to hook an event handler to the process so that your
> application get's notified when the process exits.
>
> --
> Tom Shelton