Making VB app. return exit code

[Kooper Tina]

I am executing a VB program as a Part of SQL server Job and wants it to return exit code telling its success and failure based on which it can make further decision.

[Lothar Haensler]

if you end your VB program via ExitProcess API you can specify a "return code", that can be trapped by a calling process.

[Kooper Tina]

Thanks a lot Lothar ,You make it sound possible and easy.I am completely trapped into doing this.
Can I request you to explain it a little more.Will the return value of this API cCall EXIT PROCESS serve as exit code?
Thanks in advance

[Lothar Haensler]

Hi Tina,
let's assume your VB app looks like this:

declaration for ExitProcess goes here (from API-Addin)
Sub Main
Call ExitProcess(1)
End Sub

Then, e.g. in an NT Commandfile
yourprogram.exe
if errorlevel 1 goto error
goto ok
:error
program failed
k


See what I mean? You can query the argument to ExitProcess in a command file via ERRORLEVEL or in another process via GetExitCodeProcess API.
I am not sure if it is smart to end a VB program with ExitProcess.
It might cause problems with unreleased resources.
If does work, though as far as returning an exit code is concerned.

[Lothar Haensler]

here's a complete sample tested in NT 4

option Explicit
private Declare Sub ExitProcess Lib "kernel32" (byval uExitCode as Long)

Sub Main()
ExitProcess 5
End Sub



Make exe: c:\project1.exe
the command file
@echo off
c:\project1.exe
if errorlevel 5 goto error
goto ok
:error
@echo error
k

play around with the exitprocess statement: set it's argument to 5 or zero and see what happens in the commandfile!