How to detect that a Windows application is running (no GUI)

Would like to have a suggestion on how to detect (preferably in such a way a batch file could use the result) whether a certain application is running so that some action could be taken. (Of course, not something GUI-based).

2 Answers

Thetasklist commandcan search for a given process.

Checking for success inside a batch file is a bit complicated, since this command does not set the errorlevel.

You need then to use it in conjunction with another utility that does set it, for example thefind commandlike this:

echo off
tasklist /fi "imagename eq notepad.exe" | find "notepad.exe" > nul
if errorlevel 0 echo I found notepad.exe

The idea here is that notepad.exe will appear in the output only if the task is found, hence find will set the errorlevel to 0 for foundand 1 for not found.

See also:

• if command
• Errorlevel and Exit codes

@echo off
set "_results=Not Running"
set "_imagename=executable_with_imagename_length_greater_than_25_characters.exe"
tasklist.exe /svc /fo list | find.exe /i "%_imagename%" >nul && set "_results=%_results:Not =%"
echo=%_results%

• Use: Tasklist /svc /fo list

• Use: Find "string" && [if/because return 0 do()] || [if/because return non 0 do()]

Notice something in this scenario

1. I have one executable running

2. The name +(.extension) of my executable has more them 25 characters in length

3. Using TaskList/fi "imagename eq some_imagename.exe", has a 25 character limitation where imagename.exe will appear

4. Using TaskList/fi "imagename eq some_imagename.exe"|find "some_imagename.exe" return errorlevel == 0

5. But using the command below, I always get errorlevel == 1, due to the limitation of characters in the imagename field

To obtain accurate information, not limited to character length, replace:

tasklist /fi "imagename eq executable_with_imagename_length_greater_than_25_characters.exe"|find /i "executable_with_imagename_length_greater_than_25_characters.exe"
Tasklist /svc /fo list | find /i "executable_with_imagename_length_greater_than_25_characters.exe" 

• What these commands are doing

 Inhibits echo on commands: @echo off
Define status to Not Running: set "_results=Not Running
Define The Program.eXtension: set "_imagename=executable.exe" TaskList: tasklist.exe /svc /fo list /SVC Displays services hosted in each process. /FO format Specifies the output format. Valid values: "TABLE", "LIST", "CSV".
Redirect TaskLis out to Find: tasklist.exe ... | find ... Handles input "%filtering%": find.exe /i "%_imagename%" Omit find output/string: >nul if command returned 0 runs: && next_cmd
Replace/Remove 'Not ' in var: set "_results=%_results:Not =%"
Echoes the current condition: echo=%_results%

• This is all intended to explain that the use of TaskList with the flag "/fi "imagename eq executable" is not accurate/reliable, without considering the character string containing the name.eXtension of file/program:

@echo off
set "_results=Not Running"
set "_imagename=executable.exe"
tasklist.exe /svc /fo list|find.exe /i "%_imagename%">nul && set "_results=%_results:Not =%"
echo=%_results%

• A simple alternative would be:

@echo off
tasklist.exe /svc /fo list | ( find.exe /i "Program_Name.exe" ) >nul && echo;True || echo;False

• What I would use:

@echo off
for /f %%i in ('"tasklist.exe /svc /fo list|find.exe /i "ProgramName.Exe">nul && echo;True||echo;False"
')do set "_bool=%%~i"
echo/%_bool%

preferably in such a way a batch file could use the result

• Using argument's:

file.cmd program.exe outvar

@echo off
if "%~1" == "" (set "_default=My_Default_Program.exe") else set "_default=%~nx1"
for /f %%i in ('"tasklist.exe /svc /fo list|find.exe /i "%_default%">nul && echo;True||echo;False"
')do set "_bool=%%~i" && set "%~2=%%~i"
echo/%_bool%

• :: Or using :lable....

@echo off
for /f %%i in ('"tasklist.exe /svc /fo list|find.exe /i "%~1">nul && echo;True||echo;False"
')do if "%%~i" == "True" goto :True_Label_Job
echo/%~nx1 False
rem :: command for False condition here...
rem :: command for False condition here...
rem :: command for False condition here...
exit /b || goto :eof
:True_Label_Job
echo/%~nx1 True
rem :: command for True condition here...
rem :: command for True condition here...
rem :: command for True condition here...
exit /b || goto :eof

Additional Resources:

• Set /?
• Echo /?
• Find /?
• For /?
• For /F /?
• Tasklist /?
• Redirection
  • |, <, >, 2>, etc.
• Conditional Execution
  • || and &&
• Goto :Label | Call :Label
• Variable and Substring Manipulation
• Command line parameters in batch file
• How can I pass arguments to a batch file
• How does the Windows Command Interpreter [cmd.exe] Parse Scripts

• Another answer dealing with the same point addressed but with a different title
  • How To Deal With “.” in the middle of a program name In a bat File?

I need to check with a bat file if a program is running in tasksheduler.

The big problem is this program is from external guys and have four "."
in the middle of the name.

I'm using this code:

tasklist /fi "IMAGENAME eq Fls.Core.Portal.UI.Shell.exe" 2>NUL | find /I /N "Fls.Core.Portal.UI.Shell.exe">NUL
msg * %ERRORLEVEL%
goto Exit

with program running behind I was expecting the return of
errorlevel 0, but it is returning 1

I believe the problem is this "." in the name of the program.