Question

I have the following code

void reportResults() 
  {
    wstring env(_wgetenv(L"ProgramFiles"));
    env += L"\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe";
    wstringstream url;
    url << "\"\"" << env.c_str() << "\"  http://yahoo.com\"";
    wchar_t arg[BUFSIZE];
    url.get(arg, BUFSIZE);
    wcout << arg << endl;
    _wsystem(arg);
  }

Where arg is:
“”C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe” http://yahoo.com“

The program functions as expected, launching IE and navigating to Yahoo, but the calling function (reportResults) never exits. How do I get the program to exit leaving the browser alive?
Thanks.

Answer 1

You want to use _wspawn() instead of _wsystem(). This will spawn a new process for the browser process. _wsystem() blocks on the command that you create; this is why you’re not getting back to your code. _wspawn() creates a new, separate process, which should return to your code immediately.