Understanding SystemUtil.Run syntax with examples

Understanding SystemUtil.Run syntax with examples

SystemUtil.Run is an inbuilt QTP command that lets you run a file or an application. Mostly SystemUtil.Run command is used to open browser with a specific URL. But there is much more that can be done with it. Here in this article, you’ll see various examples on how to use SystemUtil.Run for different purposes. Let’s first go through the syntax of SystemUtil.Run method -

SystemUtil.Run file, [params], [dir], [op], [mode]

Argument	Description
file	String Value [Mandatory]. The name of the file you want to run.
params	String Value [Optional]. If the specified file argument is an executable file, use the params argument to specify any parameters to be passed to the application.
dir	String Value [Optional]. The default directory of the application or file.
op	String Value [Optional]. The action to be performed – open, edit, explore, find & print.If this argument is blank (“”), the open operation is performed. Operation Description open Opens the file specified by the file parameter. The file can be an executable file, a document file, or a folder. Non-executable files are open in the associated application. edit Launches an editor and opens the document for editing. If the file argument does not specify an editable document file, the statement fails. explore Explores the folder specified by the file argument. find Initiates a search starting from the specified folder path. print Prints the document file specified by the file argument. If the specified file is not a printable document file, the statement fails.
mode	Integer Value [Optional]. Specifies how the application is displayed when it opens. Default : 1 Mode Description 0 Hides the window and activates another window. 1 Activates and displays the window. If the window is minimized or maximized, the system restores it to its original size and position. Specify this flag when displaying the window for the first time. 2 Activates the window and displays it as a minimized window. 3 Activates the window and displays it as a maximized window. 4 Displays the window in its most recent size and position. The active window remains active. 5 Activates the window and displays it in its current size and position. 6 Minimizes the specified window and activates the next top-level window in the Z order. 7 Displays the window as a minimized window. The active window remains active. 8 Displays the window in its current state. The active window remains active. 9 Activates and displays the window. If the window is minimized or maximized, the system restores it to its original size and position. Specify this flag when restoring a minimized window. 10 Sets the show-state based on the state of the program that started the application.

Examples : SystemUtil.Run

1. Using file argument:

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SystemUtil.Run "iexplore.exe" 'opens internet explorer with default page SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe" 'opens blank notepad window SystemUtil.Run "notepad" 'opens blank notepad window SystemUtil.Run "D:\AutomationRepository.txt" 'since this is a non executable file, the file opens in the associated application i.e. notepad in this case

2. Using params argument

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'If 'file' argument is an executable file, then 'params' can be used to specify the arguments to the application SystemUtil.Run "iexplore.exe", "http://www.automationrepository.com" 'opens Automation Repository in Internet Explorer browser SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe", "D:\SomeTextFile.txt" 'opens the text file in notepad

3. Using dir argument

1 2	'dir argument can be used to specify the default location of the application SystemUtil.Run "iexplore.exe", "", "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\"

4. Using op argument

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SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe", "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "open" 'open a file SystemUtil.Run "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "", "edit" 'open file in edit mode 'Explore the folder specified by 'file' argument. Refer figure-1 SystemUtil.Run "My Computer", "", "", "explore" 'Initiate a search starting from the specified folder path. Refer figure-2 SystemUtil.Run "D:\", "", "", "find" SystemUtil.Run "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "", "print" 'prints a document specified by 'file' argument

5.Using mode argument

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SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe", "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "", 0 'the file is opened in hidden mode SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe", "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "", 1 'activates and displays the window SystemUtil.Run "notepad.exe", "D:\AutomationRepository.txt", "", "", 2 'opens the window in minimized state