Program/Parameters |
The Program/Parameters edit-field is a multi-functional control, where you can enter different types of information:
1. Parameter switches for a watched program:
Parameter switches are switches passed to a program to control its functionality. For example, many console programs support the -h or /? parameter switch to show a short usage documentation. Example:
With this example, check one of these two checkboxes
2. Parameter files for a watched program:
A Parameter file is a (document) file passed to a program. The program then processes this file or opens this document file. When you insert an existing parameter file into this Program/Parameters edit-field (e.g. by Drag&Drop) then PA-RUN shows a small preview of the file:
In the above example, when clicking the RUN button the popular PDF viewer Acrobat Reader is being executed (and watched). This program then loads the document file documentation.pdf.
Note: When you drag&drop a file which is not a program (e.g. a document file) anywhere on the Program tab of the main window then this file will automatically be inserted in this Program/Parameters edit-field.
3. Execute a Program (without watching it) in the same way as "Windows Run":
If you insert an existing program into the Program/Parameters edit-field the program icon is displayed:
In the above example, when you hit the ENTER/RETURN key (or double-click on the program icon) the Windows notepad program is executed. In this case the full file path (C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe) is not needed because Windows knows that notepad.exe is located in the C:\Windows\system32 directory.
In the same way you can add a parameter to this commandline: In the above example, the Windows notepad program is executed. Notepad then loads the existing document file R:\test.txt.
Try to add the "/A" switch (open the text file in ANSI mode) or the "/W" switch (open the text file in UNICODE mode) and see the result in each case:
When you execute a program from the Program/Parameters edit/field the main PA-RUN program window is automatically minimized to the Tray Icon. You can restore the main PA-RUN program window by clicking on the Tray Icon or by pressing the global PA-RUN shortcut.
Note: When you drag&drop a program file anywhere on the Program tab of the main window while the CONTROL key is pressed then this program file will automatically be inserted in this Program/Parameters edit-field (instead of the default Program watch edit-field).
4. Open a document file in the associated program in the same way as "Windows Run":
If you insert an existing document file into the Program/Parameters edit-field the document icon is displayed: In the above example, when you hit the ENTER/RETURN key (or double-click on the TXT icon) the test.TXT file is opened in its associated program.
▶ A right-click on this Program/Parameters edit-box brings up the same popup-menu as a left-click on its right-hand button
▶ You can drag a parameter file e.g. from Windows Explorer and drop it anywhere on the PA-RUN Program page to have it automatically entered into the Program/Parameters edit-field.
▶ Move text between edit-fields: You can easily and quickly move text between this Program/Parameters edit-field and the Program Watch edit-field by clicking the buttons between these two edit-fields:
Normally, when passing a file as parameter to a program on the command-line, a file path containing spaces must be enclosed in quotes, for example: "C:\My Files\folder with many spaces\My File.txt" PA-RUN does not require you to do this, EXCEPT when there is a file-path containing spaces AND other parameters in the "Program/Parameters" edit-field, for example:
This message informs you that the program you want to start requires higher privileges. In this case you can either: • Check the Run as Administrator checkbox: • Click on the elevation button
See also: |