How can I determine the subsystem used by a given .NET assembly?

Question

In a C# application, I\'d like to determine whether another .NET application is a Console application or not.

Can this be done using the reflection APIs?

EDI

Answer 1

The SHGetFileInfo function can do this:

[DllImport("shell32.dll", CharSet=CharSet.Auto, EntryPoint="SHGetFileInfo")]
public static extern ExeType GetExeType(string pszPath, uint dwFileAttributes = 0, IntPtr psfi = default(IntPtr), uint cbFileInfo = 0, uint uFlags = 0x2000);

[Flags]
public enum ExeType
{
    None = 0,
    WinNT = 0x04000000,
    PE = ((int)'P') | ((int)'E' << 8),
    NE = ((int)'N') | ((int)'E' << 8),
    MZ = ((int)'M') | ((int)'Z' << 8),
}

Then, according to the specification, if it's only MZ or PE, it is opened in console, otherwise (if a version is specified), it is open in a window.

ExeType type = GetExeType("program.exe");
if(type == ExeType.PE || type == ExeType.MZ) return "console";
else return "window";

Answer 2

I suppose it should the same as for native apps so then you might be able to adapt this article from C++ to C# to read the PE headers: How To Determine Whether an Application is Console or GUI

Answer 3

This is out of the scope of managed code. From the .NET perspective, Console and Windows UI applications are the same. You have to peek into the PE file header. Search for the word, "Subsystem" on this page http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/bb985997.aspx

Answer 4

I don't think there's a scientific way to determine it, the closest workaround that comes to my mind is using reflection to check if the application references and loads the WinForms assembly, but I'm not entirely sure. Might give it a try.