isCOBOL Evolve : Appendices : Library Routines : C$SYSTEM
C$SYSTEM
The C$SYSTEM library routine executes a program from an isCOBOL application.
On Windows the routine invokes the CreateProcessA API function via the jna libraries (installed along with isCOBOL). Calling the Windows API function allows you to support the CSYS-MAXIMIZED, the CSYS-MINIMIZED and the CSYS-HIDDEN flags.
On Linux/Unix platforms, or when jna is not available in the Classpath, the routine uses the exec() method of the java.lang.Runtime class. In this scenario CSYS-MAXIMIZED, CSYS-MINIMIZED and CSYS-HIDDEN are not supported.
 
Syntax:
 CALL "C$SYSTEM" USING commandLine 
                      [flags]
                GIVING systemStatus
Parameters:
commandLine
PIC X(n)
Specifies the operating system command to be executed.
flags
any numeric data item
It specifies a value that affect the behavior of the library routine. The value is calculated by combining one or more of the following values, defined in iscobol.def:
 
CSYS-ASYNC
The command specified in commandLine is executed asynchronously.
CSYS-MAXIMIZED
The command window, if any, is shown maximized. It works only on Windows.
CSYS-MINIMIZED
The command window, if any, is shown minimized. It works only on Windows.
CSYS-HIDDEN
The command window, if any, is not shown. It works only on Windows.
CSYS-SHELL
Only on Windows, the system command interpreter cmd.exe is used to run the command specified in commandLine.
Note that on Linux/Unix the command interpreter sh is always used, instead, even without this flag.
CSYS-DESKTOP
The command is executed client side in thin client environment. This flag is supported for compatibility. It’s preferable to call the routine using CALL CLIENT in order to obtain the same result.
Return code:
systemStatus can be any signed numeric data item. It receives the exit status of commandLine.
Examples:
Example - Run notepad.exe and wait for it to finish
call "c$system" using "notepad.exe"