From: Stephen Kellett <snail@...>
Date: 2005-09-24T03:01:40+09:00
Subject: Re: A windows ole question - howto start an external application

In message <64.5ddd06ca.30658a0e@aol.com>, Nuralanur@aol.com writes
>Hello,
>
>I would like to make Ruby run an external program - Maple - under Windows  XP,
>write something to it and then close it.
>It would be nice to capture the output of that program, but that's  not
>obligatory, since I could make that program write a file for itself.

Try the Win32 function CreateProcess() - of course via the appropriate 
Ruby interface.

Or if the application has been registered with the shell and has some 
verbs, you could try "Open"ing the file you want - the appropriate 
process will be started automatically.

Stephen
-- 
Stephen Kellett
Object Media Limited    http://www.objmedia.demon.co.uk/software.html
Computer Consultancy, Software Development
Windows C++, Java, Assembler, Performance Analysis, Troubleshooting