Pass arguments to a command prompt using c#

Question

I am new to C# and I am trying disable or enable users at local computer as shown in the code below. I am creating a exe and prompting users to enter username which they want to enable or disable.

Now I want to pass the arguments to a command prompt and disable or enable users. For eg:>cmd.exe John Disable.

How to pass arguments to a command prompt using c# and use the same code below to enable or disable users?

class EnableDisableUsers
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
                Console.WriteLine("Enter user account to be enabled or disabled");
                string user = Console.ReadLine();
                Console.WriteLine("Enter E to enable or D to disable the user account");
                string enableStr = Console.ReadLine();
                bool enable;

            if (enableStr.Equals("E") || enableStr.Equals("e"))
            {


                PrincipalContext ctx = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Machine);

                // find a user
                UserPrincipal username = UserPrincipal.FindByIdentity(ctx, IdentityType.SamAccountName, user);

                if (user != null)
                {
                    try
                    {
                        //Enable User
                        username.Enabled = true;
                        username.Save();
                        Console.WriteLine(user + " Enabled");
                    }
                    catch (Exception e)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Operation failed - Username is not valid", e.Message);
                    }
                }
                Console.ReadLine();
            }
            else if (enableStr.Equals("D") || enableStr.Equals("d"))
            {


                PrincipalContext ctx = new PrincipalContext(ContextType.Machine);

                // find a user
                UserPrincipal username = UserPrincipal.FindByIdentity(ctx, IdentityType.SamAccountName, user);

                if (user != null)
                {
                    try
                    {
                        //Disable User
                        username.Enabled = false;
                        username.Save();
                        Console.WriteLine(user + " Disabled");
                    }
                    catch (Exception e)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Operation failed - Username is not valid", e.Message);
                    }
                }
                Console.ReadLine();
            }
        }
    }

do you mean "how do I read the arguments passed to my program?" — hometoast
– hometoast, Commented Jul 18, 2012 at 13:50
If any one of the 6 answers provided have resolved your issue, please mark the answer as correct with the check mark. Use the up arrows to show that a post is helpful, even if it does not solve your issue. Doing so will ensure continued help in the future for any questions you may have :) — Robert H
– Robert H, Commented Jul 18, 2012 at 14:06

ecMode · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 13:49:37Z

1

ProcessStartInfo processStartInfo = new ProcessStartInfo();
processStartInfo.Arguments = "/c ping " + machine;
processStartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
Process process = new Process();
process.StartInfo = processStartInfo;
process.Start();

Here's an example using the ping command in console. You can add other options like forcing it to not open the gui etc.

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:49

ecMode

5403 silver badges16 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Eric Robinson Over a year ago

his project is a console app. so he doesn't need a new cmd window.

KV Prajapati · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 13:50:21Z

0

You may use Environment.CommandLine to read command line argument or Environment.GetCommandLineArgs() methods.

 String[] arguments = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs();

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:50

KV Prajapati

94.8k20 gold badges151 silver badges188 bronze badges

Comments

kimar · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 13:50:59Z

0

Just have a look at the

string[] args

Your command-line arguments are inside the string array.

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:50

kimar

2112 silver badges8 bronze badges

Comments

hometoast · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 13:51:28Z

0

the arguments sent to your program are stored in args

static void Main(string[] args)

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:51

hometoast

11.8k5 gold badges43 silver badges58 bronze badges

Comments

Andrew Backes · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 13:54:01Z

0

Is this in your Main? If so, you would refer to the command line arguments from the string[] args:

static void Main(string[] args)

You can see some examples here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa288457(v=vs.71).aspx

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:54

Andrew Backes

1,9144 gold badges22 silver badges38 bronze badges

Comments

Robert H · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-18 16:57:24Z

0

Use:

 switch (args[x])
 {
      .... 

  }

for example

 switch (args[x])
 {
  #region --loop
  case "--loop":               
      x = -1;
      break;
 #endregion

 #region --test-net
     case "--test-net":
          Task isAlive = Task.Factory.StartNew(() =>
          {
              bool alive = tlib.CheckForInternetConnection();
              if (!alive)
              {
                  while (!alive)
                  {
                      Console.WriteLine("No connectivity found.");
                      System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(9000);
                      alive = tlib.CheckForInternetConnection();
                  }
              }
              else
              {
                   //TODO: Add alive code here 
              }
          });
          isAlive.Wait();
          break;

          #endregion
}

This allows you to say prog.exe --test-net and run that specific code.

--edit--

With multiple args you can string together a command, in this instance

prog.exe --test-net --loop

You can have as many args as you want. If you want to use human input for an arg you can always control the amount of args and grab args[x+1] to get the name of the person to disable/enable.

This is making an assumption that your case statements have 2 cases: --enable and --disable for instance. Then you can call the program like:

prog.exe --enable John

edited Jul 18, 2012 at 16:57

answered Jul 18, 2012 at 13:53

Robert H

11.7k19 gold badges72 silver badges112 bronze badges

2 Comments

user1528803 Over a year ago

Can I pass multiple args[] inside switch ?

Robert H Over a year ago

absolutely, just separate each arg with a new case statement. See my update.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Pass arguments to a command prompt using c#

6 Answers 6

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

6 Answers 6

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Comments

Comments

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related