Quick links: itch.io page

This single-function extension allows to call ShellExecute from GameMaker: Studio and GameMaker Studio 2 games.

The function execute_shell_simple takes up to 4 arguments:

• path (required)
  The absolute path to whatever you are trying to run - an executable, a text file, a .url, etc.
  If you are not sure how to get the true path to your file, have the game copy it to save directory (game_save_id).
• args (optional)
  Command-line arguments to pass. Non-executables will generally ignore these.
  If omitted, defaults to "".
• action (optional)
  What to do with the file, as per lpOperation in MSDN.
  If omitted, defaults to "open".
• showCmd (optional)
  One or other magic number (such as 6 for SW_MINIMIZE) from the same MSDN page.
  If omitted, defaults to 5 (SW_SHOW).
• workingDirectory (optional) A full path to the working directory for the new process. If omitted, uses the game's current working directory.

Create a text file and open it in default editor:

var _path = game_save_id + "/hi.txt"; var _txt = file_text_open_write(_path); file_text_write_string(_txt, "Hi! " + date_datetime_string(date_current_datetime())); file_text_close(_txt); execute_shell_simple(_path);

Create a text file and open it in Notepad:

var _path = game_save_id + "/hi.txt"; var _txt = file_text_open_write(_path); file_text_write_string(_txt, "Hi! " + date_datetime_string(date_current_datetime())); file_text_close(_txt); var _windir = environment_get_variable("WINDIR"); execute_shell_simple(_windir + "/Notepad.exe", _path);

Create an internet shortcut and open it in default browser:

var _url = "https://yoyogames.com"; var _path = game_save_id + "/shortcut.url"; var _txt = file_text_open_write(_path); // note: use '' instead of @'' in GMS1 file_text_write_string(_txt, @'[{000214A0-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}] Prop3=19,11 [InternetShortcut] IDList= URL=' + _url); file_text_close(_txt); execute_shell_simple(_path);

For more advanced uses, consider Execute Shell or Evaluate Shell by Samuel Venable.

Author: YellowAfterlife
License: MIT