From a script (e.g. REXX or BAT) how can I tell if Firefox is up and running?

Question

System: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
I'm trying to open Firefox with multiple tabs open at one time using a program, which reads a configuration file (XML). I discovered when using the "-new-tab" command line parameter, I get one windows for each URL instead of one window with multiple tabs.
I can get it to work IF Firefox is already up and fully running. In other words its frames exist and are visible. If Firefox is only running (say in the tasklist) but not yet visible, the user again gets one window for each URL (e.g. 5 URLs = 5 Firefox windows) instead of 1 window with 5 tabs.
Thus I've been wondering is there a method in Windows or using Firefox to tell from a script (e.g. REXX, BAT, Perl, etc) if Firefox is completely visible and running, so when you a script uses the "-new-tab" parameter the tab appears instead of a window (per URL).

Answer 1

Hello and thank you for your reply,
Now I wish I hadn't "cleaned" up my question to make it easier to read, but instead included examples. In my case, the initial firefox.exe command I used was:
cmd /C start "FFXI Firefox" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Category:Combat_Skills" -new-tab "file:///C:/Users/Bertram Moshier/Programs/FFXI/FFXI_Skill_Caps.html" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Skill_Ups:_A_Guide_by_Kyrial" -new-tab "http://www.mithrapride.org/vana_time/" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Dragoon" "http://ffxi.somepage.com/mobdb/" -new-tab "http://www.ffxiah.com/item/4558/yagudo-drink" -new-tab "http://greatbigsea.guildlaunch.com/forums/index.php?gid=108403" -new-tab "http://guildwork.com/games/ffxi/shouts"
As you can see in this version I put "-new-tab" in front of each URL and the result, since firefox version 9.0.1 has been:
1) If firefox.exe is fully up and running a tab for each URL opens in one window.
2) If firefox.exe is not fully up and running a window for each URL opens with only one tab.
So, ah, I have been trying the -new-tab method from the start. Recently, I tried removing the -new-tab and it has been working, but I think that is more of a fluke than correctly working, as it goes against the documentation.
As for tell if firefox is up and running, thanks! I've been using the following code, which is similar to yours. What I found, though, is simply having firefox.exe up and running in advance (or starting it) is NOT enough. Like your code, mine, tells if it is running in the Window's tasklist. Yet, my experience, thus far, has been until the firefox window appears, you still get the multiple windows for each "-new-tab" you send. Only if firefox.exe is already FULLY up and running with its windows visible does the "-new-tab" work per the documentation.
Here is the core code I've been using (using REXX) -- this is static code on the URL and not the XML configuration version.
NOTE: I think it is basically the same as your code, but longer . . . . My hope was the code would wait till firefox would be up enough for the "-new-tab" to work, which I find to be between 8 and 15 seconds depending upon the system. Again what I discovered is simply having the tasklist command show firefox.exe running is NOT enough. Well, this is true on my Windows 7 x64 system (Firefox 9.0.1 - 16)
firefox_found = 0
FFXI_Website_Queue = 'FFXI_Website'
rc = rxqueue('delete',FFXI_Website_Queue)
rc = rxqueue('create',FFXI_Website_Queue)
rc = rxqueue('set',FFXI_Website_Queue)
rc = !!Firefox_Exists()
if rc = 0 then do
'cmd /C start /D "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\" "FFXI Firefox" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"'
rc = 0
do until rc = 1
rc = !!Firefox_Exists()
call SysSleep(1)
end
end
'cmd /C start "FFXI Firefox" "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Category:Combat_Skills" -new-tab "file:///C:/Users/Bertram Moshier/Programs/FFXI/FFXI_Skill_Caps.html" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Skill_Ups:_A_Guide_by_Kyrial" -new-tab "http://www.mithrapride.org/vana_time/" -new-tab "http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Dragoon" -new-tab "http://ffxi.somepage.com/mobdb/" -new-tab "http://www.ffxiah.com/item/4558/yagudo-drink" -new-tab "http://greatbigsea.guildlaunch.com/forums/index.php?gid=108403" -new-tab "http://guildwork.com/games/ffxi/shouts"'
rc = rxqueue('delete',FFXI_Website_Queue)
call !!EOJ 0
/* >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Insert your subroutines here <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< */
| |
| Subroutine section |
| |
!!Firefox_Exists:
'tasklist /V /FI "IMAGENAME eq firefox.exe" | RxQueue' FFXI_Website_Queue '/FIFO'
do while queued() <> 0
parse pull Image_Name PID Session_Name Session_Number Memory_Usage Status User_Name CPU_Time Window_Title
if Image_Name = 'firefox.exe' then do
firefox_found = 1
leave
end
end
return firefox_found