Open cmd prompt for user input with node - javascript

I have created a node script which should run as a background process. Right after the script starts running run I need to get some user data (username & password).
After getting the user data I wish to close the terminal but the process should continue running in the background.
To complicate things, the node script is being built with pkg lib and will be started as an .exe
pkg on NPM
Here is a the code that will be executed:
async function init() {
try {
await fetchConfig();
const credentials = await getCredentials(); // this one prompts the request for user input
watchForNewFiles(credentials); // that one should use the credentials and continue running in the background.
} catch (e) {
console.error(e);
}
}
init();

Here's a solution:
// Neccesary libs
let fs = require("fs");
let child_process = require("child_process");
// Filename should end in .bat
let filename = "__tmp.bat";
// Main function, call this to prompt the values.
function prompt() {
// Write batch script
// Prompts 2 variables & writes them as JSON into the same file
fs.writeFileSync(filename,`#echo off
set /p Var1="Name: "
set /p Var2="Password: "
echo {"name": "%Var1%", "password": "%Var2%"} > ${filename}
exit`);
// Execute the script in a cmd.exe window & write the result into stdout & parse it as JSON
let result = JSON.parse(child_process.execSync(`start /w cmd /c ${filename} && type ${filename}`));
// Delete the file
fs.unlinkSync(filename);
return results;
}
// Example usage:
console.log(prompt()) // prints { name: 'hi', password: 'world' }
Tested as a node14-win-x64 pkg binary, works perfectly.

AFAIU this is not possible to do from inside node.js's running code by itself.
You have to use some kind of tool to put the node.js program in the background.
This answer lists several tools for this purpose.
This one is also useful.

Related

Running stateful commands in PowerShell through Node.js

Context: I have a javascript file that activates PowerShell's native SpeechSynthesizer module. The script receives a message and passes that through to PowerShell, where it is rendered as speech.
Problem: there is horrible latency (~5sec) between execution and response. This is because the script creates an entirely new PowerShell session and SpeechSynthesizer object with every execution.
Objective: I want to change the script so that a single PowerShell session and SpeechSynthesizer object is persisted and used across multiple sessions. I believe this will eradicate the latency completely.
Limiting Factor: this modification requires making the PowerShell execution stateful. Currently, I don't know how to incorporate stateful commands for the PowerShell in a javascript file.
Code:
const path = require('path');
const Max = require('max-api');
const { exec } = require('child_process');
// This will be printed directly to the Max console
Max.post(`Loaded the ${path.basename(__filename)} script`);
const execCommand = command => {
// Max.post(`Running command: ${command}`);
exec(command, {'shell':'powershell.exe'}, (err, stdout, stderr) => {
if (err) {
// node couldn't execute the command
Max.error(stderr);
Max.error(err);
return;
}
// the *entire* stdout and stderr (buffered)
Max.outletBang()
});
}
// Use the 'outlet' function to send messages out of node.script's outlet
Max.addHandler("speak", (msg) => {
let add = 'Add-Type -AssemblyName System.speech'
let create = '\$speak = New-Object System.Speech.Synthesis.SpeechSynthesizer'
let speak = `\$speak.Speak(\'${msg}\')`
let command = ([add,create,speak]).join('; ')
execCommand(command)
});
Objective, Re-stated: I want to move the add and create commands to a 'create' handler which will only be ran once. The speak command will be run an arbitrary amount of times afterward.
Attempted Solution: I've found one package (https://github.com/bitsofinfo/powershell-command-executor) that supposedly supports stateful PowerShell commands, but it's very complicated. Also, the author mentions a risk of command injection and other insecurities, of which I have no knowledge of.
Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

How debug a nodejs API

I've been worked on a vue project.
This vue project use the nodejs API I've created, in simple way, they are two entire differents project which are not located in the same directory and they are launched separately.
The problem is whenever I debug a route with node --inspect --debug-break event_type.controller.js for example named:
"/eventtype/create"
exports.create = (req, res) => {
const userId = jwt.getUserId(req.headers.authorization);
if (userId == null) {
res.status(401).send(Response.response401());
return;
}
// Validate request
if (!req.body.label || !req.body.calendarId) {
res.status(400).send(Response.response400());
return;
}
const calendarId = req.body.calendarId; // Calendar id
// Save to database
EventType.create({
label: req.body.label,
}).then((eventType) => {
Calendar.findByPk(calendarId).then((calendar) => {
eventType.addCalendar(calendar); // Add a Calendar
res.status(201).send(eventType);
}).catch((err) => {
res.status(500).send(Response.response500(err.message));
});
}).catch((err) => {
res.status(500).send(Response.response500(err.message));
});
};
Even if I create a breakpoint on const userId = jwt.getUserId(req.headers.authorization);
and from my vue app I trigger the api createEventType event, my break point is not passed.
Also when I press f8 after the breakpoint on my first line with the debugger, my file close automatically.
I do not use VS Code but Vim for coding but I've heard that maybe Vs Code could allow a simplified way to debug nodesjs application.
NOTE: I use the V8 node debugger.
For newer NodeJS versions (> 7.0.0) you need to use
node --inspect-brk event_type.controller.js
instead of
node --inspect --debug-break event_type.controller.js
to break on the first line of the application code. See https://nodejs.org/api/debugger.html#debugger_advanced_usage for more information.
The solution (even if it's not really a solution) has been to add console.log to the line I wanted to debug.

copyFileSync not copying file and not throwing error

I'm running a function which I've written in JavaScript inside a nodejs/Electron client.
This function is meant to copy a file from the users flash drive to their c:/Windows/System32 (The file is being copied there so that it can be ran from Command Prompt manually next time the computer is touched without having to switch directories)
The problem is, the files are not being copied, and copyFileSync is not throwing an error.
Here is the code I'm specifically having a problem with:
try {
console.log('copying t.bat');
fs.copyFileSync(remote.app.getAppPath() + '\\app\\files\\scripts\\files\\t.bat', 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\t.bat');
} catch(err) {
console.log('could not copy t.bat', err);
$('#mfail_title').text('Could not copy t.bat file');
$('#mfail_data').text(err);
UIkit.modal("#master_fail").show();
return false;
}
As you can see, I have copyFileSync inside a TRY CATCH block. I know this code is running because in the console I get copying t.bat, but nothing else.
How can I get my files to copy, or at least throw an error when it cannot?
This client is running inside OOBE mode on various Windows 10 machines, therefore always has administrator access.
I've tried updating to the async version of copyFile, but I'm having the same issue. Here is my code
var source = remote.app.getAppPath() + '\\app\\files\\scripts\\files\\t.bat';
var destination = 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\t.bat';
fs.copyFile(source, destination, (err) => {
if (err) {
console.log(err);
} else {
source = remote.app.getAppPath() + '\\app\\files\\scripts\\files\\p.bat';
destination = 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\p.bat';
fs.copyFile(source, destination, (err) => {
if (err) {
console.log(err);
} else {
source = remote.app.getAppPath() + '\\app\\files\\scripts\\files\\p.bat';
destination = 'C:\\Windows\\System32\\p.bat';
child = spawn("powershell.exe",['-ExecutionPolicy', 'ByPass', '-File', remote.app.getAppPath() + '\\app\\files\\scripts\\' + type + '.ps1']);
}
});
}
});
This should copy a file, then when it's complete it should copy another file, once that is complete, it should run a powershell script.
Each copyFile checks for an error before moving on, but it never throws an error, and the file is never copied.
I had a similar issue earlier, In which an Antivirus(Comodo) was not allowing electron app to access the hard drive.
Copy and other file operations were successful in that case as well, because electron in such case access the corresponding sandbox
Please check this is not the case with you.
You can actually access 'fs' in console from electron and check other things in the file system.
Looks to me as if you're using fs on then renderer process (client side) which will not work (assuming that your fs is the node.js fs module and (*)). Your first script seems to use jQuery (hints for renderer) and the second one uses remote in the first line.
fs can only (*) be used on the main process and you'll need to create an IRC channel and do something like:
ircRenderer.sendSync('copy-file-sync', {from: '/from/path', to: '/to/path'})
and, of course, implement the handler for that quickly invented 'copy-file' channel on the main process.
(*) Edit: I haven't played around a lot with nodeIntegration = true, so fs may or may not work on the renderer process with that flag set on the BrowserWindow. But the irc messaging should definitely work and if not, the problem is outside electron, probably related to file permissions.

Executing FolderBrowserDialog in powershell from client browser using javascript

I'm trying to trigger some sort of Folder Selection Dialog, I have a working model with nodejs and the powershell but it only works when the server and client are on the same machine. I need the prompt to occur on the client side triggered from the browser. From what i understand I can not trigger Powershell from Chrome? So is there an alternative or am i just screwed?
My current Powershell script
{
param([string]$Description="Select Folder",[string]$RootFolder="Desktop")
[System.Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("System.windows.forms") |
Out-Null
$objForm = New-Object System.Windows.Forms.FolderBrowserDialog
$objForm.Rootfolder = $RootFolder
$objForm.Description = $Description
$Show = $objForm.ShowDialog()
If ($Show -eq "OK")
{
Return $objForm.SelectedPath
}
Else
{
Write-Error "Operation cancelled by user."
}
}
$folder = Select-FolderDialog # the variable contains user folder selection
write-host $folder
My javascript function
async function asyncfindDir() {
//executes powershell script
let promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
const Shell = require('node-powershell');
const ps = new Shell({
executionPolicy: 'Bypass',
noProfile: true
});
ps.addCommand('./selectfolder.ps1');
ps.invoke()
.then(output => {
//console.log(output);
var shelloutput = output;
console.log (shelloutput + '^^from external script');
res.send(shelloutput);
})
.catch(err => {
console.log('please select a directory path')
//console.log('err');
});
});
};
Is there anyway to get that working locally?
Is there a trigger i'm not aware of to access that kind of dialog from the browser? I know i'm not the only person with this issue but i have yet to see a real solution.
Short answer: No.
Longer answer, is best illustrated by rephrasing your question with a different script name:
Using my browser, can I click on a link to visit a website, and have it run a random
PowerShell script called Delete_All_Files.ps1?
Answers why you will never be able to run a PowerShell script from a browser, on a remote machine, and why browsers will deliberately block you from doing it, because people usually don't want to have all their files deleted when they click on a random link in their email.
If you want to run PowerShell scripts on remote machines, then you should look into PSRemoting and Enter-PSSession.
#kuzimoto is right. If you just want to display a folder dialog box, there are easier ways to do that and Fine Uploader is an easier way.
Replying to your comment: If you want to specify a directory name, the reason you can't do it is because you are essentially asking:
Using my browser, can I click on a link to visit a website, and have
it run a script that will enumerate through all the files and folders
in my C:\ so that it can choose the folder C:\users\Justin
Miller\Desktop\SECRET FILES\?
The reason both operations do not work is because both operations require local computer access. i.e. local script execution access, and local directory knowledge access. Security-wize, we, in general, don't want to visit a random website and have it execute random code, or know what files/folders I have on my machine, which is why you won't be able to do what you want to try to do.

WebSocket connection closes after calling child process

Here's the setup: I create simple WebSocket Server using the ws library. I then attach a listener for when the client sends me the URL of a PDF to transform. I download it locally then I call another command to transform it:
const download = require("download");
wss.on("connection", ws => {
ws.onmessage = async msg => {
await download(msg.data, destination, {
filename: fileName
});
transformPDF(ws, msg.data);
};
// ...
});
After that, the transformPDF function calls the spawn command to execute a command line binary. I parse the percentage done from the stdout and then try to emit it to the client. But even before this, the connection has been closed and I'm not sure why:
const { spawn } = require("child_process");
const transformPDF = (ws, url) => {
// ...
const child = spawn("k2pdfopt", settings);
child.stdout.on("data", data => {
// ...
ws.send(percentageDone); // <--- connection is broken before this is called
});
};
I have tried to make the transformPDF function a promise and then awaiting it. I have also tried adding an optional detached option to the spawn process. I'm not really sure why it's closing since I've also successfully replaced the command k2pdfopt with something like a lengthy find, and that worked just fine (although it did batch all of the data in the stdout before calling ws.send).
Any help or insight on why it's closing is much appreciated.
Turns out that when I was creating a child process, it was resetting the Visual Studio Code live-server extension that I had running the index.html. That explains why I was also getting a status code of 1001, which I found out most likely means the client refreshed.
I fixed the issue by simply installing the node package live-server and running my index.html from a different terminal.

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