php execute a background process

Question

I need to execute a directory copy upon a user action, but the directories are quite large, so I would like to be able to perform such an action without the user being aware

Answer 1

For those of us using Windows, look at this:

Reference: http://php.net/manual/en/function.exec.php#43917

I too wrestled with getting a program to run in the background in Windows while the script continues to execute. This method unlike the other solutions allows you to start any program minimized, maximized, or with no window at all. llbra@phpbrasil's solution does work but it sometimes produces an unwanted window on the desktop when you really want the task to run hidden.

start Notepad.exe minimized in the background:

Run("notepad.exe", 7, false); 
?> 

start a shell command invisible in the background:

Run("cmd /C dir /S %windir%", 0, false); 
?> 

start MSPaint maximized and wait for you to close it before continuing the script:

Run("mspaint.exe", 3, true); 
?> 

For more info on the Run() method go to: http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/script56/html/wsMthRun.asp

Edited URL:

Go to https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee156605.aspx instead as the link above no longer exists.