ProcessStartInfo.FileName Property

Definition

Gets or sets the application or document to start.

C#
public string FileName { get; set; }
C#
[System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter("System.Diagnostics.Design.StringValueConverter, System.Design, Version=1.0.5000.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")]
public string FileName { get; set; }
C#
[System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter("System.Diagnostics.Design.StringValueConverter, System.Design, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")]
public string FileName { get; set; }
C#
[System.ComponentModel.SettingsBindable(true)]
[System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter("System.Diagnostics.Design.StringValueConverter, System.Design, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a")]
public string FileName { get; set; }
C#
[System.ComponentModel.SettingsBindable(true)]
public string FileName { get; set; }

Property Value

The name of the application to start, or the name of a document of a file type that is associated with an application and that has a default open action available to it. The default is an empty string ("").

Attributes

Examples

C#
using System;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.ComponentModel;

namespace MyProcessSample
{
    class MyProcess
    {
        public static void Main()
        {
            try
            {
                using (Process myProcess = new Process())
                {
                    myProcess.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
                    // You can start any process, HelloWorld is a do-nothing example.
                    myProcess.StartInfo.FileName = "C:\\HelloWorld.exe";
                    myProcess.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
                    myProcess.Start();
                    // This code assumes the process you are starting will terminate itself.
                    // Given that it is started without a window so you cannot terminate it
                    // on the desktop, it must terminate itself or you can do it programmatically
                    // from this application using the Kill method.
                }
            }
            catch (Exception e)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(e.Message);
            }
        }
    }
}

Remarks

You must set at least the FileName property before you start the process. The file name is any application or document. A document is defined to be any file type that has an open or default action associated with it. You can view registered file types and their associated applications for your computer by using the Folder Options dialog box, which is available through the operating system. The Advanced button leads to a dialog box that shows whether there is an open action associated with a specific registered file type.

The set of file types available to you depends in part on the value of the UseShellExecute property. If UseShellExecute is true, you can start any document and perform operations on the file, such as printing, with the Process component. When UseShellExecute is false, you can start only executables with the Process component.

You can start a ClickOnce application by setting the FileName property to the location (for example, a Web address) from which you originally installed the application. Do not start a ClickOnce application by specifying its installed location on your hard disk.

Important

Using an instance of this object with untrusted data is a security risk. Use this object only with trusted data. For more information, see Validate All Inputs.

Applies to

Product Versions
.NET Core 1.0, Core 1.1, Core 2.0, Core 2.1, Core 2.2, Core 3.0, Core 3.1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
.NET Framework 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 4.5.1, 4.5.2, 4.6, 4.6.1, 4.6.2, 4.7, 4.7.1, 4.7.2, 4.8, 4.8.1
.NET Standard 2.0, 2.1