How to Work with Processes > Working with the Host Services Processes Group > Working with ShellExecute on Host Process

Process Purpose

The "ShellExecute on Host" process is used to execute a specific command in the defined application, installed in the Host, with optional parameters.

When you add a process, you are required to define its settings. This occurs in the process's properties window which is displayed automatically after having added the "ShellExecute on Host" process.

If any subsequent edition is required, double-click the process to open its properties window and enter the necessary modifications.

Fill in the following options:

Host
Host Name	Select an MCL-Net host profile from the drop-down OR click to create a new host profile or edit an existing one. See To Create a Host Profile OR To Edit a Host Profile OR The <Default> Host Profile.
Parameters
Path + File Name	Enter the path and name of the target file (application) to be affected by the "shell command" OR click and select a variable with that value. See Variable Usage.
Action	Select one of the available commands from the drop-down OR click and select a variable with the intended value. Command possibilities depend on the called application's capabilities.
Arguments	Click and select the variable containing the intended parameters to be associated to the previously defined command.
Working Directory	Enter the directory that includes the file(s) to be used by the application in the host.
If Communication Error
Go to	Select a target location from the drop-down or the list, in case there is a communications error. See Detail of a window below. When defining a screen as a target destination (ex: via a “Go to” process), you CANNOT use variables to specify the name of that target screen. You must select the intended screen from the available drop-down/list.

Detail of a window:

"S:Menu" is a screen included in the same program as the process.

"R:Routine_1" is a routine included in the same program as the process.

Use the following recurring icons (located on the upper right corner of the properties window) to execute specific operations:

•Click to define a time out. See Time Out.

•Click to attach any relevant notes to this process. Click it and enter your notes in the resulting text box. These notes will be displayed in the corresponding "Actions" tab or "Process" window (in the "Notes" field) and in the "Developer Report".

After filling in the required options, click to conclude or click to abort the operation.

The added process is displayed in the corresponding "Actions" tab or "Process" window.

You can use relative paths to refer the file(s) you want to use in your project. See Working with Aliases.

If you want to use a label as a target destination, you can use the "Auto-Label" mechanism. This alternative to the "Set Label" process allows you to create a label in the properties window of a process - specifically, in the fields used to define target destinations (ex: the "If Error..." type fields). See To Automatically Create a Label.

Use the right-click in MCL-Designer's input boxes to access some related options as well as the general "Cut", "Copy"; "Paste"; "Search" actions (active/inactive according to the current context).

Ex: If you right-click the "Variable" input box (included in a "Conversion's" properties window), you are provided with general editing/search actions and other more specific options such as "Variable Select" (see "Variable Select"); "Variable Insert" (see "Variable Insert"); "Insert Special Character" (see To Insert Special Characters into a Control's Text Input Field) and "Localization Select" (see Localization List).

If you right-click another input box, it may provide other possibilities.