Perl in a Nutshell, 2nd Edition

Win32::Process

This module provides access to extended Win32 process creation and management abilities. Process objects are created with the Create method (the constructor). Additional methods can be used on objects to kill, suspend, resume, and set the priorities of processes.

The Create constructor has the following syntax:

Win32::Process->Create($Proc, app, cmnd, hndls, opts, dir)

The arguments to Create are as follows:

$ Proc

Name of the reference for the created process object.

app

Full pathname of the executable.

cmnd

Command line for executable.

hndls

Determines handle inheritance. A value of 1 turns on inheritance; a 0 value turns it off.

opts

Sets options to implement when the process is created. The available options for this argument are listed below.

dir

The working directory for the executable.

The process is created by passing the command line in cmnd to the executable named in app. For example, a process object for a text file running in Notepad is created like this:

use Win32::Process;
Win32::Process->Create($proc, 'C:\\windows\\Notepad.exe',
                       "Notepad perlnut.txt", 1, 
                       DETACHED_PROCESS, ".");

The process creation options given by the opts argument to Create are:

CREATE_DEFAULT_ERROR_MODE

Gives the process the default error mode.

CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE

Creates a new console for the process. Can’t be used with DETACHED_PROCESS.

CREATE_NO_CONSOLE

Creates a new process, but without running the process in a new and visible window. That is, a new process will be created, but in the background.