Execute a hidden process to retrieve the output, without creating a textfile?

Question

I'm trying to execute a hidden process to retrieve the output.

For this task I'm trying to use Exec method but the problem that I see is that I can't hide the process window?.

I've seen an alternative way using Run method to start the process hidden, and then writting the output to a textfile, and then parsing the text content, but that It's not what I'm looking for 'cause I always try to avoid bad programming practices in other languages so I would like to know if this operation in VBS can be performed without managing the creation of external text files, just I want to simplify things and don't create textfiles.

Here is my code:

Response = CreateObject("WScript.Shell"). _
           Exec("powercfg.exe /GetActiveScheme"). _
           StdOut.ReadAll

PowerPlanName = Split(Split(Response, "(")(1), ")")(0)
PowerPlanGUID = Split(Split(Response, ":")(1))(1)

Msgbox "Information about the current energy scheme."  & vbNewLine & vbNewLine & _
       "Name: " & PowerPlanName                                    & vbNewLine & _
       "GUID: " & PowerPlanGUID,                                                 _
       64,                                                                       _
       "Energy scheme (powercfg.exe)"

WScript.Quit(0)

Answer 1

Unlike Run, Exec does not allow you to hide the window.

Exec Method: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ateytk4a(v=vs.84).aspx

Run Method: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/d5fk67ky(v=vs.84).aspx

However, capturing data in a temp file isn't a bad practice. In your case, using Run and dumping into a temp file is probably your best option with what you're trying to do.