Launching multiple programs from Perl script

Shawrich has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

I am working on a script which will launch several applications based upon user input to a Tkx form. In the past I have performed similar tasks using system or exec commands. However, system launches the first application and then waits for it to return, and exec launches the first application and then, of course, dies.

My idea was to have the perl code create a batch file to run all the applications, then just run the bat file with exec. Unless any of the monks around here have a better suggestion?

Thx

Comment on Launching multiple programs from Perl script

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by tobyink (Canon) on Nov 06, 2012 at 15:49 UTC
`exec($cmd1) if fork; exec($cmd2) if fork; exec($cmd3) if fork;` [download] Also FYI, `exec` doesn't cause your script to "die"; it removes your script from the operating system's process table, replacing it with the executed command. Thus your script "becomes" the executed program. `perl -E'sub Monkey::do{say$_,for@_,do{($monkey=[caller(0)]->[3])=~s{::}{ }and$monkey}}"Monkey say"->Monkey::do'`	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^2: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by mbethke (Hermit) on Nov 06, 2012 at 17:12 UTC
Just as short but makes for a more intuitive process relationship---all $cmdX processes are children of the script instead of $cmd3 being a child of $cmd2 which is a child of $cmd1: `fork or exec $cmd1; fork or exec $cmd2; fork or exec $cmd3;` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re^2: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by Shawrich (Initiate) on Nov 06, 2012 at 16:38 UTC
I tested this but found the code stopped after the first exec statement. Here is the portion of my code I'm working with. `foreach ( keys %bridges ) { if ( $bridges{$_} ) { my $cmdStr = "\"C:\\Some Path\\$_\\Some File.exe\""; exec($cmdStr) if fork; } }` [download]	[reply] [d/l]
Re^3: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by mbethke (Hermit) on Nov 06, 2012 at 17:16 UTC
You mean the `exec` never returned? Strange. fork/exec emulation is not exactly straightforward on Windows but it shouldn't be that broken. Works fine here on Linux. Are you sure it's not how `%bridges` is set up?	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by Anonymous Monk on Nov 06, 2012 at 15:55 UTC
Proc::Background	[reply]
Re^2: Launching multiple programs from Perl script by Shawrich (Initiate) on Nov 06, 2012 at 16:45 UTC
Proc::Background does not appear to like spaces in the file name. However, I found another post on this and it resolved my issue with the spaces. Re: Proc::Background does not take file path with spaces And here's the final, working code example for anyone else who comes along. `foreach ( keys %bridges ) { if ( $bridges{$_} ) { my $cmdStr = Win32::GetShortPathName("C:\\Some Path\\$_\\Some +File.exe"); my $proc1 = Proc::Background->new($cmdStr); } }` [download]	[reply] [d/l]