Open one command window and execute a series of commands from it.

I would like to open a command window/prompt (e.g. cmd.exe) and pass a single line command to it, wait for it to finish, and pass another command to it, continuing until done and then close the command window.

Thinking about this, I guess I could build a multi-line command list and pass that to the command window and let it execute, continuing with the VBA once the commands are done executing. However, I would prefer my opening request because it would show how it can actually be done (reuse an open window).

I've found a few things where a single command is run and the window is then closed but it doesn't get reused:
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/run...-t3895036.html
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129797

I don't know if these are the right track for me or not. I've never had a need to run the command window and execute multiple command from inside Excel so this is a new learning opportunity for me.

I don't want to run a batch file, I want to pass commands to the command window on the fly. The command window is to remain open, accepting new commands as they come, and only close once I command it to.

From what I've tried to find it looks like what I want isn't possible. yudlugar, I was thinking the same idea. Well, good to have a second opinion that confirms what I was thinking, thanks for your input. Looks like I'll be using that route.

I think I'll be incorporating this --> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129796/EN-US
to 'pause' VBA processing.

Here's my work-around.

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The function used to run the batch script:

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For my purposes the batch file is created in the same location as the Excel workbook. Just makes things easier. Due to the EXIT command in my batch script the return value will be zero; this is why I don't care about the function's return value.

What's nice about this is that the VBA code will stop executing until the batch script is done (waitOnReturn:=True). Thus the need to close the cmd window using the /c switch (Command:="%comspec% /c "). I ensure this by also using the EXIT command.

HTH.