how to run an executable file and then later kill or terminate the same process with R in Windows

Question

let\'s say i have an executable file stored in c:\\my directory\\my file.exe that i would like to initiate near the beginning of my R script, and then terminate

Answer 1

drawing on the other two answers received, this technique seems like a reasonable way to accomplish the stated goal..

# specify executable file
exe.file <- "C:\\Users\\AnthonyD\\AppData\\Local\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\chrome.exe"

# capture the result of a `tasklist` system call
before.win.tasklist <- system2( 'tasklist' , stdout = TRUE )

# store all pids before running the process
before.pids <- substr( before.win.tasklist[ -(1:3) ] , 27 , 35 )

# run the process
shell.exec( exe.file )

# capture the result of a `tasklist` system call
after.win.tasklist <- system2( 'tasklist' , stdout = TRUE )

# store all tasks after running the process
after.tasks <- substr( after.win.tasklist[ -(1:3) ] , 1 , 25 )

# store all pids after running the process
after.pids <- substr( after.win.tasklist[ -(1:3) ] , 27 , 35 )

# store the number in the task list containing the PIDs you've just initiated
initiated.pid.positions <- which( !( after.pids %in% before.pids ) )

# remove whitespace
after.tasks <- gsub( " " , "" , after.tasks )

# find the pid position that matches the executable file name
correct.pid.position <- 
    intersect(
        which( after.tasks %in% basename( exe.file ) ) ,
        initiated.pid.positions 
    )


# remove whitespace
correct.pid <- gsub( " " , "" , after.pids[ correct.pid.position ] )

# write the taskkill command line
taskkill.cmd <- paste( "taskkill" , "/PID" , correct.pid )

# wait thirty seconds (so the program fully loads)
Sys.sleep( 30 )

# kill the same process that was loaded
system( taskkill.cmd )