Start and stop a console application using C#

Start a console application:

System.Diagnostics.Process aspProcess = null;

private void start_console_app()

        {

            try

            {

                string pathToExe = @"<<Path to the exe >> ";

                

                if (aspProcess == null)

                {

                    aspProcess = new System.Diagnostics.Process();

                }

                

                //Path and file name of command to run

                aspProcess.StartInfo.FileName = pathToExe;

                aspProcess.StartInfo.WindowStyle = ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden;

                //Parameters to pass to program

                aspProcess.StartInfo.Arguments = "<<arguments you want to pass>>";

                aspProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = true;

                aspProcess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;

                //Start the process

                aspProcess.Start();

                //Wait for process to finish

                aspProcess.WaitForExit();

                aspProcess = null;

            }

            catch (Exception ex)

            {

                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);

            }

        }

1. For starting a console application, you would need to create an object of class "System.Diagnostics.Process".

2. "FileName" is the path of the exe (console application).

3.  "Arguments" - It will send arguments to your console application.

4.  ProcessWindowStyle.Hidden will hide the console window.

5. Start () method will start the process.

Stop a console application by sending "Control + C" Signal:

public void stop_console_app()

        {

            // Release the current console, as you cannot attach 2 consoles at the same time

            if (aspProcess != null)

            {

                uint pid = (uint)aspProcess.Id;

                FreeConsole();

                // This does not require the console window to be visible.

                if (AttachConsole(pid))

                {

                    // Disable Ctrl-C handling for our program

                    SetConsoleCtrlHandler(null, true);

                    GenerateConsoleCtrlEvent(CtrlTypes.CTRL_C_EVENT, 0);

                    // Must wait here. If we don't and re-enable Ctrl-C

                    // handling below too fast, we might terminate ourselves.

                    Thread.Sleep(2000);

                    FreeConsole();

                    // Re-enable Ctrl-C handling or any subsequently started

                    // programs will inherit the disabled state.

                    SetConsoleCtrlHandler(null, false);

                }

            }

        }

You can add "Console_CancelKeyPress" event in your console application to nicely terminate it. If you want to call this method from another application (from where you've started your console application), add the above method.