system command

[rajasree]

I am trying to call an external application in my C++ program , example,
system("C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe");
but the application just gets closed. Can any one help me!

Dear All,
Thanks a lot. my problem is resolved.
1. double slashes need to be used. thanks for the suggestion and
2. the command that worked for me was "ShellExecuteEx"

[mutexe]

I seem to recall using this in the past:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms682425(v=vs.85).aspx

(assuming you're on windows which it looks like you are from that path).

[S G H]

Quoted paths need a doubleslash for backward slashes (e.g. your path would be system("C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe");)
Considering iexplore.exe is usually in the system path, this would work too (but is as dangerous as using system() in the first place: system("iexplore.exe");)

This said, you should avoid system().
It opens an entire world of flaws, many antiviruses will mark your program as a virus, and many other bad things will happen.
@mutexe: Personally, I use ShellExecute, since it is able to open arbitrary files too.

[mutexe]

cheers ess.
i've just looked at project in my work and it was ShellExecute. OP sorry for the misinformation.

[JLBorges]

The path contains spaces; enclose it in quotes:

// std::system("C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe");

// either
std::system( R"( "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" )" ) ; // c++11

// or
std::system( " \"C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\" )" ) ;

[Computergeek01]

Also something to keep in mind is that the WinAPI will normally except a forward slash '/' in place of a backslash '\' for UNC paths and neither C or C++ see those as escape characters.