The Windows Scripting Host (WSH) does provide a nice alternative to the FoxPro Run command. For one, there is no annoying flash of a "DOS" window to look at.

It's been a year or so since I went after it, but WSH was a free download from Microsoft. It probably still is. WSH included an interpreter for both VBScript and Java Script. The download included nice examples for automating Word, automating Excel, creating a Windows shortcut programmatically, and more.

I use Windows 95 but my understanding is that WSH is included with newer versions of Windows including Win98.