Techy Stuff Help!

[jd1981]

I've asked this before but nothing has worked.

I have a yahoo.com mail account.
My calendar seems to think it is yahoo.co.uk, therefore when it emails me reminders for upcoming events, I cant read them.

How to I change my calendar to match my e-mail account?

Depends what you’re using I use iCloud for my calendar and file back ups, it’s linked to my Mac and iPhone

 

[Tom Hark]

I am using a batch file to carry out a series of tests that involves repeated restarts of a program. Each time the program restarts, it takes focus, so I'm trying to get it to run either minimized or in the background so I can get on with something else while it's running. I've set the shortcut properties for both the .bat file and the program to run minimized, which works fine for the command window but, of course, the .bat file points to the program's .exe file rather than the shortcut, so that still runs in a window. Is there a way to edit the .bat instruction to achieve what I want? Thanks.

 

[Tredman]

Add /S after your .exe target in the batch file IIRC.

 

[Alan]

Believe that's right, "s" for "silent" is how I remember it.

 

[Tom Hark]

Add /S after your .exe target in the batch file IIRC.

Thanks, but that just produces a nanosecond flash of the command window and, as far as I can see, nothing else. If it helps, each line in the file reads: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FOLDER\PROGRAM.exe" test-PARAMETERS.ini

It also occurs to me, if I do run this in the background (I presume that's what /s does), as opposed to minimized, is it possible to get an alert when it's finished?

 

[Tredman]

Hmm, I assume the .ini is an input to the exe, not sure where the /s should go in this case - I’ve given up on batch files now you can run Linux on windows.

Putting PAUSE at the end of the batch file will keep the command prompt window open at the end.

 

[Alan]

Thanks, but that just produces a nanosecond flash of the command window and, as far as I can see, nothing else. If it helps, each line in the file reads: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FOLDER\PROGRAM.exe" test-PARAMETERS.ini

It also occurs to me, if I do run this in the background (I presume that's what /s does), as opposed to minimized, is it possible to get an alert when it's finished?

I'm a bit new to Powershell, but... I think it's something like

$alias = get-process <your batch file>
$alias.waitforexit()
"Shit's done" (or a more appropriate String)

Something like that.

 

[Tom Hark]

I might just install a VM! Thanks, guys.

 

[Tredman]

Docker!

 

[Tom Hark]

Docker!

Is that the way to go? I was looking at VirtualBox.

 

[Tredman]

Docker is great for small containerised single task solutions. If you need windows that might throw a spanner in though - assuming your base OS is windows just use the built in hyper-v

 

[Tom Hark]

Docker is great for small containerised single task solutions. If you need windows that might throw a spanner in though - assuming your base OS is windows just use the built in hyper-v

Sounds just the job. I'll check it out. Thanks.

 

[Tom Hark]

I had a look at their site. It might as well be in Chinese, so far as I'm concerned. If it ain't got a GUI, I'm finished!

 

[Tredman]

I had a look at their site. It might as well be in Chinese, so far as I'm concerned. If it ain't got a GUI, I'm finished!

It can have a GUI, but usually that goes in a docker too.

If you want a free VM solutution runnign WIndows do this: Introduction to Hyper-V on Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs

 

[Tom Hark]

Thanks, but you need Win 10 Pro for that and I've only got Home. VirtualBox is free too, though. (Still all seems a massive faff when all I want to do is run something minimized. )

 

[Tredman]

Thanks, but you need Win 10 Pro for that and I've only got Home. VirtualBox is free too, though. (Still all seems a massive faff when all I want to do is run something minimized. )

Tried solution 1 here?:

windows - Run a batch file in a completely hidden way - Super User

 

[Tom Hark]

Ooo, that looks interesting. I'll gi' it a goo.

 

[Tom Hark]

The script launches the command window invisibly, but that isn't really the problem, because I've got that minimized anyway. The window of the program that the batch file opens and closes is still visible. That's the one I need to get silent or minimized.

 

[AndyWolves]

I am using a batch file to carry out a series of tests that involves repeated restarts of a program. Each time the program restarts, it takes focus, so I'm trying to get it to run either minimized or in the background so I can get on with something else while it's running. I've set the shortcut properties for both the .bat file and the program to run minimized, which works fine for the command window but, of course, the .bat file points to the program's .exe file rather than the shortcut, so that still runs in a window. Is there a way to edit the .bat instruction to achieve what I want? Thanks.

Can you point your batch file at the shortcut (.lnk I think) rather than the exe?

 

[Tom Hark]

Can you point your batch file at the shortcut (.lnk I think) rather than the exe?

That's done it! That was my first thought, but I didn't realize a shortcut had a file type. (Still, I've only had a computer for 25 years. Lots to learn yet. ) Thank you very much, Andy.