ProcessStartInfo.Verb Property

Definition

Namespace:

System.Diagnostics

Assembly:

System.Diagnostics.Process.dll

Source:

ProcessStartInfo.cs

Gets or sets the verb to use when opening the application or document specified by the FileName property.

public:
 property System::String ^ Verb { System::String ^ get(); void set(System::String ^ value); };

public string Verb { get; set; }

member this.Verb : string with get, set

Public Property Verb As String

Property Value

String

The action to take with the file that the process opens. The default is an empty string (""), which signifies no action.

Examples

The following code example starts a new process by using the specified verb and file name. This code example is part of a larger example provided for the Verbs property.

int i = 0;
var startInfo = new ProcessStartInfo(fileName);

// Display the possible verbs.
foreach (var verb in startInfo.Verbs)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"  {i++}. {verb}");
}

Console.Write("Select the index of the verb: ");
var indexInput = Console.ReadLine();
int index;
if (Int32.TryParse(indexInput, out index))
{
    if (index < 0 || index >= i)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Invalid index value.");
        return;
    }

    var verbToUse = startInfo.Verbs[index];

    startInfo.Verb = verbToUse;
    if (verbToUse.ToLower().IndexOf("printto") >= 0)
    {
        // printto implies a specific printer. Ask for the network address.
        // The address must be in the form \\server\printer.
        // The printer address is passed as the Arguments property.
        Console.Write("Enter the network address of the target printer: ");
        var arguments = Console.ReadLine();
        startInfo.Arguments = arguments;
    }

    try
    {
        using (var newProcess = new Process())
        {
            newProcess.StartInfo = startInfo;
            newProcess.Start();

            Console.WriteLine($"{newProcess.ProcessName} for file {fileName} " +
                              $"started successfully with verb '{startInfo.Verb}'!");
        }
    }
    catch (Win32Exception e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("  Win32Exception caught!");
        Console.WriteLine($"  Win32 error = {e.Message}");
    }
    catch (InvalidOperationException)
    {
        // Catch this exception if the process exits quickly,
        // and the properties are not accessible.
        Console.WriteLine($"Unable to start '{fileName}' with verb {verbToUse}");
    }
}

Dim i = 0
Dim startInfo = New ProcessStartInfo(fileName)

Dim verb As String
For Each verb In startInfo.Verbs
    ' Display the possible verbs.
    Console.WriteLine($"  {i}. {verb}")
    i += 1
Next

Console.Write("Select the index of the verb: ")
Dim indexInput = Console.ReadLine()
Dim index As Integer
If Int32.TryParse(indexInput, index) Then
    If index < 0 OrElse index >= i Then
        Console.WriteLine("Invalid index value.")
        Return
    End If

    Dim verbToUse = startInfo.Verbs(Convert.ToInt32(index))

    startInfo.Verb = verbToUse
    If verbToUse.ToLower().IndexOf("printto") >= 0 Then
        ' printto implies a specific printer.  Ask for the network address.
        ' The address must be in the form \\server\printer.
        Console.Write("Enter the network address of the target printer: ")
        Dim arguments = Console.ReadLine()
        startInfo.Arguments = arguments
    End If

Remarks

Each file name extension has its own set of verbs, which can be obtained by using the Verbs property. For example, the "print" verb prints a document specified by using FileName. The default verb can be specified by using an empty string (""). Examples of verbs are "Edit", "Open", "OpenAsReadOnly", "Print", and "Printto". You should use only verbs that appear in the set of verbs returned by the Verbs property.

When you use the Verb property, you must include the file name extension when you set the value of the FileName property. The file name does not need to have an extension if you manually enter a value for the Verb property.

See also

• Verbs