Execute applications

Start process

It is possible start and run external applications from PowerShell. They are started via processes. It will be done with cmdlet Start-Process. You have to give also a name of process or applications by the parameter FilePath. In the following example the Firefox application has been started.

Start-Process -FilePath Firefox -ArgumentList www.jamk.fi

Close process

Of course, it would be nice to shut down a process/application which has been started. You will get a hook to the started process with a cmdlet Get-Process and with a cmdlet Stop-Process you can stop your process, which close your application.

In the following example the Firefox application has been started and closed immediately.

Start-Process -FilePath Firefox -ArgumentList www.jamk.fi
#get a hook to Firefox
$myapp = Get-Process Firefox
#close Firefox
Stop-Process $myapp

Let's tune a little bit the example. We will pause the script for ten seconds. And let's use the pipeline, not a variable.

#start Firefox
Start-Process -FilePath Firefox -ArgumentList www.jamk.fi
#pause script for 10 seconds
start-Sleep -Seconds 10
#pipeline to close Firefox
Get-Process Firefox | Stop-Process

Please, try it with your own computer.