# Using the launch() function anomaly
**URL:** https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573
**Category:** Processing
**Created:** [January 13, 2023, 6:54am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573 "2023-01-13T06:54:42Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@markcosmic](https://discourse.processing.org/u/markcosmic)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2023, 6:54am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/1 "2023-01-13T06:54:42Z")
Using the launch() function does launch the already compiled sketch. But the compiled sketch ends/exits immediately. I wasn’t sure launch() was working until I set the flag in the properties of the compiled sketch to “Run as Administrator”. The usual alert popped up asking if I want to allow the app to make changes to my device. I click “Allow” and the compiled sketch starts and shuts down in a blink. I can run the compiled sketch no problem, but not from within a sketch.
Anyone experiencing this?
Any thoughts?
Thanks
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### Author:  [@markcosmic](https://discourse.processing.org/u/markcosmic)
#### Post date: [January 14, 2023, 7:17pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/2 "2023-01-14T19:17:08Z")
I’m using Processing 4. I created a new sketch just to launch() a exported sketch(.exe file). I used a different compiled sketch than the one I previously tried and received the same results.
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### Author:  [@markcosmic](https://discourse.processing.org/u/markcosmic)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/3 "2023-01-31T03:57:59Z")
After further checking, I found the launch() function will launch, say “C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe”, but will not launch any of the exported sketches (“.exe” files) I created.
I’m hoping to find an answer to this anomaly
Any thoughts would be appreciated
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### Author:  [@mnse](https://discourse.processing.org/u/mnse)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2023, 2:59pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/4 "2023-01-31T14:59:53Z")
Hi @markcosmic,
you need to be in the same directory as the executable, resp. the working directory needs to be set to.
So on windows you can call it like that …
`launch("cd /d : && .exe");`
This should work. If not, you can trace the issue by using
```auto
Process p = launch("cd /d : && .exe");
try {
p.getErrorStream().transferTo(System.err);
} catch (Exception e) {
println("Error on Stream: " + e)
}
```
Cheers
— mnse
PS: remember to use `\\` for `\` on path string. ie: `cd C:\\MyDir\\etc\\`
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### Author:  [@markcosmic](https://discourse.processing.org/u/markcosmic)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2023, 8:19pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/5 "2023-01-31T20:19:48Z")
mnse,
Thank you for responding. I am aware of the launch(parameters).
This is what I tried:
case 5: //launch Create PlayList
//createPlayList(); (this links the ChatGPT suggested way to do it)
//launch(“C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe”); //THIS WORKED
---
### Author:  [@mnse](https://discourse.processing.org/u/mnse)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2023, 9:18pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/6 "2023-01-31T21:18:34Z")
Hi @markcosmic,
_Please read my post carefully to get the point._
If you start notepad.exe you are not dependent of a working dir. This is different for starting the sketch executable.
Cheers
— mnse
---
### Author:  [@markcosmic](https://discourse.processing.org/u/markcosmic)
#### Post date: [January 31, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://discourse.processing.org/t/using-the-launch-function-anomaly/40573/7 "2023-01-31T22:42:20Z")
Thank you. I got it. This is what worked for me. I didn’t want to hard code a location.
launch(“cd /d” + dataPath(“&& PlayList03.exe”));
Again,
Thank you