# Executing an external application from Ignition Perspective View

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** perspective\
**Created:** [January 19, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814 "2023-01-19T20:16:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![conrad.fernandez](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/conrad.fernandez/32/38608_2.png) [@conrad.fernandez](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/conrad.fernandez)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2023, 8:16pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814/1 "2023-01-19T20:16:31Z")

</div>

I added this to a button onclick event, but nothing happens:

def runAction(self, event):  
system.util.execute(['notepad.exe', 'c:\program files\inductive automation\ignition\license.txt'])

Note: the system.util line is indented per python requirement.

I want to eventually call another program if I can get this example one to work.

Thanks for your help!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814/2 "2023-01-19T20:26:33Z")

</div>

You simply cannot do this with Perspective. It is security violation for a browser to launch any real application on the client machine.

On top of that, all scripts in Perspective run on the gateway, not in the browser. So your script is trying to open `notepad.exe` **in the gateway** , in the background service where there's **No UI at all**.

If you absolutely have to be able to do this sort of thing, you need to use Vision, not Perspective.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![victordcq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f6c823/32.png) [@victordcq](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/victordcq)\
**Post date:** [January 20, 2023, 7:24am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814/3 "2023-01-20T07:24:23Z")

</div>

You could install an uri, but that means **you have to install it on every clients pc** (that needs this feature)  
i have an example that can opens files (on windows)

> [@WebDev to open File Explorer](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/webdev-to-open-file-explorer/47969/5):
>
> ((hm i might have replied on the wrong topic xd)) You can install an uri (on windows) that works for browsers (not the app) You gotta unzip and run it (as admin) on every client pc tho [registerExplorerURIScheme.zip](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/uploads/short-url/pPlxsSccetxa62JGDTDVaHosx42.zip) (286 Bytes) this one goes like so, i use the link component to open in a new tab: explorer:C:\yourfile.txt

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Faz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/85e7bf/32.png) [@Faz](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Faz)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 8:53pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814/4 "2024-03-27T20:53:09Z")

</div>

Sorry i'm replying to an year old post. I have a project that calls an external vbs file. Yup it works fine with Vision. However, i want to use this project in an iphad. 8.1 doesn't allow for mobile app correct? @pturmel any ideas for me to use this in an ipad. Should i go back to 7.9 and try to create this project?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 8:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/executing-an-external-application-from-ignition-perspective-view/68814/5 "2024-03-27T20:58:12Z")

</div>

Nothing from Ignition will run any such external script locally on a mobile device. Not even in v7.9. Sorry.