[ WPF ] How to execute a * .exe with a button in a main window, whose path is in a TextBox of a second window, please help me.

Question

[ WPF ] How to execute a * .exe with a button in a main window, whose path is in a TextBox of a second window, please help me.

jack pelon 96

Hi, I'm still a newbie. I have my project, in which I have 2 windows, a Main Window (Launcher.xaml) and another Second Window (Configuration.xaml). In the Main Window I have 2 buttons; a button that executes an * .exe (start game), whose path or address is in a TextBox in the second window. And the second Button calls the second window.

In the second window I have a TextBox and 2 Buttons, One is the one that calls the "OpenFileDialog" that when clicked, sends me a search dialog for the * .exe file (game.exe) and when I choose that program to execute, this write the address or path in the TextBox something like this; "D: \ folder \ game.exe". The following button saves the direction or route of the game to be able to execute it in the main window.
Well my question is how I can make the button of the main window (Start Game) execute the game whose address or path is in the TextBox of the second window, I would be very grateful if you could help me with it, please. Or some other alternative, I am already very grateful for it and its help.

I attach an image of my project:

I also attach my project file:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Yknpp5eL2qMbyHaHOSR_Cmmfho4pK7aB/view?usp=sharing

Sorry for the inconvenience I really need your help. Thank you so much...

Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-19T03:46:22.527+00:00

Hi Jack,
if you use the same instance for DataContext in MainWindow and RutaDelJuego you can bind properties and use the same values in both windows.

Please, write which language you use. I cannot read your attached project because I have only plain window here.
jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-19T04:59:33.657+00:00

Hello, thank you very much, I forgot that detail of my language, I apologize for it, my mother tongue is Spanish, I am from Peru, could you please help me with this little project, I am still on the way to learning, I am self-taught and although it is not easy to learn programming I just think I'm on the right track and patience ...

I hope now if you can help me.

I am doing the project in C # WPF language, I use Visual Estudio 2019.
Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-21T04:29:01.27+00:00
Hi Jack,
my posted code is very simple and I think there's no easier way.

ViewModel include only one property for path with exe

ViewModel implements ICommand for Command binding

ViewModel instance used as DataContext in both windows

MainWindow has 2 Buttons, one to show second window and one to start exe

each button in Mainwindow has CommandParameter

button clicks call "void exeute" in ViewModel

a separate code is executed for each case (CommadParameter -> switch)

"Load" shows the second window with ShowDialog after the current ViewModel instance has been assigned as DataContext

in second window the TextBox for Path+exe is bound to Property "ExeFileName" in ViewModel (=DataContext)

after closing the second window, TextBox will write Path + exe to the "ExeFileName" property

"Execute" (in ViewModel, bound to second Button in MainWindow) starts process with Path+exe from Property "ExeFileName"

Answer accepted by question author

3 additional answers

Your answer

Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-19T03:46:22.527+00:00

Hi Jack,
if you use the same instance for DataContext in MainWindow and RutaDelJuego you can bind properties and use the same values in both windows.

Please, write which language you use. I cannot read your attached project because I have only plain window here.
jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-19T04:59:33.657+00:00

Hello, thank you very much, I forgot that detail of my language, I apologize for it, my mother tongue is Spanish, I am from Peru, could you please help me with this little project, I am still on the way to learning, I am self-taught and although it is not easy to learn programming I just think I'm on the right track and patience ...

I hope now if you can help me.

I am doing the project in C # WPF language, I use Visual Estudio 2019.
Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-21T04:29:01.27+00:00

Hi Jack,
my posted code is very simple and I think there's no easier way.

ViewModel include only one property for path with exe

ViewModel implements ICommand for Command binding

ViewModel instance used as DataContext in both windows

MainWindow has 2 Buttons, one to show second window and one to start exe

each button in Mainwindow has CommandParameter

button clicks call "void exeute" in ViewModel

a separate code is executed for each case (CommadParameter -> switch)

"Load" shows the second window with ShowDialog after the current ViewModel instance has been assigned as DataContext

in second window the TextBox for Path+exe is bound to Property "ExeFileName" in ViewModel (=DataContext)

after closing the second window, TextBox will write Path + exe to the "ExeFileName" property

"Execute" (in ViewModel, bound to second Button in MainWindow) starts process with Path+exe from Property "ExeFileName"

Answer 1

Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341

Hi Jack,
try demo in attached txt:

18722-x.txt

jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-20T05:15:24.453+00:00

Hello Mr. Peter, thank you very much for your help, the code works, what does not work is my ability to understand since I am just starting in self-taught programming. I wonder if there is an easier way, maybe you can help me with it and if there is not, do not worry I will continue studying it, since it works well. I am very grateful for your time and kindness, I already send you a hug from a distance.

Thank you, thank you very much ... Mr. Peter.

Answer 2

I will show you a easy way not using ViewModel to get the date from the child window.
1.Add the below code to your MainWindow.xaml.cs

 string ExeFileName;  
        public void GetExeFileName(string value) { ExeFileName = value; }  
        private void BtnEscogerJuego_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)  
        {  
            RutaDelJuego ConfigRuta = new RutaDelJuego();  
            ConfigRuta.sendMessage = GetExeFileName;  
            ConfigRuta.ShowDialog();  
        }

2.Add the below code in your WpfLanzarJuego.Xaml.cs:

 public delegate void SendMessage(string value);  
        public SendMessage sendMessage;  
        private void BtnGuardarSalir_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)  
        {  
            sendMessage(RutaTextBox.Text.ToString());  
            this.Close();  
        }

3.You can use the below code to host the exe in your MainWindow:

jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-22T07:40:57.997+00:00

Hello Miss DaisyTian-MSFT, I have been working on your code in part 3 and I cannot make this work, maybe I have done it wrong, however, check everything in case I wrote it wrong and everything is fine but still I get errors.

Answer 3

Hi Jack,
without ViewModel you can use for DataContext in second window the CodeBehind of MainEindow:

<Window x:Class="WpfApp1.MainWindow"  
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"  
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"  
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"  
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"  
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApp1"  
        mc:Ignorable="d"  
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">  
  <StackPanel>  
    <Button Content="Load Second Window" Click="Button_Click_1"/>  
    <Button Content="Execute exe" Click="Button_Click_2"/>  
  </StackPanel>  
</Window>

CodeBehind:

And second Window:

Answer 4

jack pelon 96

Hello Miss DaisyTian-MSFT, and Mr. PeterFleischer-3316. I am very very grateful for your help, I am beginning to understand the "Binding, command and ViewModel". With a little self study I will understand that even more.

Miss "DaisyTian" I like your code very much and I am doing tests and learning from it, I realize that I am just beginning to climb the mountain of programming in C # WPF, thank you very much ...

I hope you have a good day and it will always be good for you. A warm hug from Peru. Thank you very much thank you friends ...

Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-22T04:23:11.917+00:00

Hi Jack,
unfortunately my trip to Peru next week was canceled.
jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-24T02:29:23.247+00:00

Hello, Mr. PeterFleischer-3316, I was doing tests and something is going wrong, in the second window I added a button that when I clicked it launches the OpenFileDialog and thus loads the * .exe address in the TextBox, when closing the second window and clicking on the "button_click_2" does not launch the * .exe.

There is something that is working wrong, I put the project again so you can review it please.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/197KgyFcOecFNfuFKtNx3er4CZBYExkgr/view?usp=sharing
Peter Fleischer (former MVP) 19,341 Reputation points

2020-08-24T05:45:09.27+00:00
Hi Jack,
"the process cannot be started because no file name was provided": your selected path+file isn't stored for using in main window.

I cannot extract your project because I have only plain window.

In second window you write only to TextBox:

// Open document string NombreArchivo = Buscar.FileName; RutaEXEjuego.Text = NombreArchivo;

in MainWindow you use the property "ExeFileName".

public void Button_Click_2(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { try { Process.Start(ExeFileName); } catch (Exception ex) { MessageBox.Show(ex.Message); } }
jack pelon 96 Reputation points

2020-08-24T06:41:07.677+00:00

Hello Mr. PeterFleischer-3316, I have been doing tests and now it is fixed. The only thing missing was to add the following in the textBox: "UpdateSourceTrigger = PropertyChanged" for everything to work out well. Now if everything is fine. Thank you very much again have a nice day. See you friend.

"<TextBox x: Name =" PathEXEgame "Text =" {Binding ExeFileName, UpdateSourceTrigger = PropertyChanged} "Margin =" 260,30,0,0 "Height =" 30 "HorizontalAlignment =" Left "VerticalAlignment =" Top "Width = "500" TextChanged = "PathEXEgame_TextChanged" /> "
Zay Scott 0 Reputation points

2025-10-20T21:43:17.3066667+00:00

Hi all and may be it's simplicity about me for asking this. Why the need for two windows instead doing it all from one window/form?

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[ WPF ] How to execute a * .exe with a button in a main window, whose path is in a TextBox of a second window, please help me.

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