batch file to open 2 progs with time delay

Could anyone please tell me how i write a batch file (.bat) to open 2
programs, the first to open immediately and the second one with a 20
second delay after the first one ??

for example:

I want to open Google Earth first (on my PC it is : C:\Program
Files\Google\Google Earth Pro\googleearth.exe)

Then i want to open another program (Event Manager) 20 seconds after
Google Earth (this program is at C:\Documents and
Settings\Andrew\Desktop\DUMP\EventManager\EventManager.exe on my PC)

I have tried, but i cannot get it to work.

You can 'start' a script file from the bat file, and use the argument to
'wait' till it returns. This could be a script that waits 20 seconds before
returning.

---example.bat--
start first.exe
start /wait myscript.vbs
start second.exe
--end file--

--myscript.vbs
wscript.sleep 20000
--end file--

Not possible by batch commands, but a very simple script will do this:

; Delay.au3
; Compile with AutoIt 3.x, http://www.autoitscript.com
; Usage in batch: Delay {seconds}

Opt ("TrayIconHide",1)

if $cmd[0] > 0 then
$thisDelay=$cmd[1] * 1000
sleep($thisDelay)
endif
exit

Sorry Mark, i don't understand any of that. Just wanted an example that
i could tailor to my own needs. Do you know (based on my needs) what the
exact text file (bat) would look like ?

Based on Tom's example, you could do-

start first.exe
echo wscript.sleep 20000 > temp.vbs
start /wait temp.vbs
start second.exe
del temp.vbs

This still uses the WSH, but the bat creates the script on the fly.

Sorry Bill, i'm a little thick and still don't get it. Do i just paste
that into a .txt doc and save it as a .bat file then execute it ???,
where do the program links go in ??? Sorry if i appear clueless, but i
am (thats why i posted here !)

Best Regards,

Copy/paste this into notepad (don't use Word or Wordpad)
and save it as "Andrew.bat"

start "C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Pro\googleearth.exe"
echo wscript.sleep 20000 > temp.vbs
start /wait temp.vbs
start "C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\Desktop\DUMP\EventManager\EventManager.exe"
del temp.vbs

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the help.

I have tried what you suggested but nothing happens !!

I run the batch file and 2 little black DOS boxes pop up saying
"C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\Desktop>"

That's all. Nothing is executed, the 2 DOS boxes just stay there !

Any ideas ??

You're right! Sorry, I didn't test it. Forget the bat file, and use
a visual basic script instead. Copy/paste this in notepad and save
it as "Andrew.vbs"


dim oShell
Set oShell=WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

oShell.Run "calc.exe",1,false
wscript.sleep 20000
oShell.Run "notepad.exe",1,false

If it works, replace "calc.exe" and "notepad.exe" with your complete
programs' paths and names.

Further to my last.

I get error message:

Script : C:\Documents and Settings\Andrew\Desktop\Andrew.vbs
Line : 4
Char : 1
Error : The system cannot find the specified file
Code: 80070002
Source : (null)

Something is mistyped with the path to the executable file. Also make
sure it is wrapped in double quotes.
(e.g.)
"C:\Program Files\Google\Google Earth Pro\googleearth.exe"

Also no line breaks in the line added by the editor.

Hey Andrew, this is my first night of writing batch files and was actually trying to figure out the google earth issue when I found this post. In the mean time I ended up figuring out a workaround on my own. I'm not sure about the event manager since I have vista 64 but I tested this out using event viewer.
My only experience is about 23 minutes and this will work 100% so not sure but these guys look like they may be joking with you.

Anyway, this is a "Bat" file and works fine. The only problem I had was even using many different methods, could not get google earth to run with with the space in the string, even when I tried to use
start "C:\Google\Google Earth\client\" googleearth.exe or start "C:\Google\Google Earth\client\googleearth.exe"

This is what I did on my system, apparently google can be cut from it's location to anywhere you want, there is nothing tied to it, you can rename the folders or take out the space with no problems. I cut it from my program (x86) folder and placed it on C:\

This is what worked for me (not using pro but it shouldn't matter).

start C:\Google\GoogleEarth\client\googleearth.exe
echo wscript.sleep 20000 > temp.vbs
start /wait temp.vbs
start C:\Windows\System32\eventvwr.exe

This is a simple workaround that will work fine.
Shorten (take out the spaces) of google as I did and since event manger won't like being relocated or renamed, simply create a shortcut for it on your C:\ and name it "a" (extension of a shortcut is .lnk). So if you follow this example it will look like this:

start C:\Google\GoogleEarth\client\googleearth.exe
ping -n 20 127.0.0.1
C:\a.lnk

You could also use the shortcut method on your googleearth.exe rather than as mentioned above if you wanted, making it even shorter.

start C:\googleearth.lnk
ping -n 20 127.0.0.1
C:\a.lnk

I also just tested what someone else wrote for a time delay and it worked. Using the VB method it would be.

start C:\Google\GoogleEarth\client\googleearth.exe
echo wscript.sleep 20000 > temp.vbs
start /wait temp.vbs
C:\a.lnk

Either of the ways work, but I prefer the simpler method. It's less code and the dos box closes on it's own and no temp.vbs to clean up.
Enjoy!

PS. There is a way to have the dos box run minimized, but I don't know how.

Strange, but when I posted this info I copied it from my notepad after testing. It looks like someone removed the "start" before each of the C:\a.lnk

Make sure that line reads
start C:\a.lnk

It will still work, but the dos box will not close.

I see the age of it, but being that I found this topic on a similiar search, decided to take the time to post my findings should someone else need assistance.
So in other words, just to help someone, unlike your comment just to annoy.

The way to access this group is DIRECTLY with any news client via the following news
URL...

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsof...lp_and_support

Nobody is modifying your (or anyone's) post. I'd suggest you stop
listening to Glenn Beck.

Who keeps modifying my posts? I take the time to post helpful information, 1st someone modifies my last line in the code, taking out "Start" from the "C:\a.lnk" line, and now after some idiot posts a comment to my good deed, that message is removed and my reply is now added to my original post making it look like I am talking to Andrew... Is this the proper use of moderating?
I believe it's actually quite illegal to change what people say, is it not? So much for trying to help a future someone. I'm going to have these screenshots investigated, this is bs.

I hear he and Sarah Palin are an item. Hey, if they can spread lies and
innuendo so can we! If we are lucky they will move to the polar ice cap
and never be heard from again...