Check if an executable exists in the Windows path

Question

If I run a process with ShellExecute (or in .net with System.Diagnostics.Process.Start()) the filename process to start doesn\'t need to be a full

Answer 1

Ok, a better way I think...

This uses the where command, which is available at least on Windows 7/Server 2003:

public static bool ExistsOnPath(string exeName)
{
    try
    {
        using (Process p = new Process())
        {
            p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
            p.StartInfo.FileName = "where";
            p.StartInfo.Arguments = exeName;
            p.Start();
            p.WaitForExit();
            return p.ExitCode == 0;
        }
    }
    catch(Win32Exception)
    {
        throw new Exception("'where' command is not on path");
    }
}

public static string GetFullPath(string exeName)
{
    try
    {
        using (Process p = new Process())
        {
            p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
            p.StartInfo.FileName = "where";
            p.StartInfo.Arguments = exeName;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
            p.Start();
            string output = p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
            p.WaitForExit();

            if (p.ExitCode != 0)
                return null;

            // just return first match
            return output.Substring(0, output.IndexOf(Environment.NewLine));
        }
    }
    catch(Win32Exception)
    {
        throw new Exception("'where' command is not on path");
    }
}