Problem executing a batch file in Java

Question

I am trying to execute a batch file in my Java application. The code is the following:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /C start C:/Documents and Settings/Zatko/My Documents/Project-Workspace/IUG/external/apps/archive/run-server.bat");

When it executes, a error dialog appear telling "Windows cannot find 'C:/Documents'. make sure you typed the name corretly...."

When I execute with the same code another batch file, named file.bat and located in the C:/Temp folder, it works perfectly....

Does anyone know where the problem may be? Is it about spacing characters?

Thanks in advance

GHad · Accepted Answer · 2010-09-10 17:54:13Z

2

Edit:

It seems the start command needs an extra parameter whenever the path to the executable to start is enclosed in ". As one must surround parameters which contains spaces by " this is a little bit confusing as the start comand works as excepted when one has a path without spaces and thus does not enclose it with ". That's what happened when I tested the code below for a folder c:/temp and it worked without an additional parameter.

The parameter in charge is a title for the window that is opened. It must come es second paramter and if it contains spaces must be surrounded by ".

I suggest to always use " for both title and path.

So here is the updated command:

You need to enclose

c:/Document and Settings/...

with " as the filename contains spaces. And you need to include a title when using the start command with a paramter with ".

For Java that would be:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /C start \"Server\" \"C:/Documents and Settings/Zatko/My Documents/Project-Workspace/IUG/external/apps/archive/run-server.bat\"");

Greetz, GHad

edited Sep 10, 2010 at 17:54

answered Sep 10, 2010 at 14:50

GHad

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4 Comments

Anto Over a year ago

I did follow the instruction. However when I go to run the code, the DOS command window appears with the cursor flashing at C:\Documents and Settings\Zatko\My Documents\Project-Workspace\IUG\>

GHad Over a year ago

Check if your server has been started already. May the batch file starts a process which leaves the command window open. When I try with a batch containing only the pause command, it works perfectly here.

Matthew Farwell Over a year ago

Do you need to change the / to \ as well?

Anto Over a year ago

It seems that the problem is indeed in the path: any batch file if located in the main C:/ folder is executed without problem. However if the same file is located in the C:/Documents and Settings/Zatko/My Documents/Project-Workspace/IUG/external/apps/archive/ simply doesn't work...

Thomas Mueller · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-21 13:42:38Z

2

It's much better to use an array:

String[] array = { ... };
Runtime.getRuntime().exec(array);

as in

String[] array = { "cmd", "/C", "start", 
    "C:/Documents and Settings/Zatko/My Documents/.../run-server.bat" };
Runtime.getRuntime().exec(array);

Using an array is specially important if you have spaces in one of the parameters, like you do.

edited Jun 21, 2011 at 13:42

answered Sep 10, 2010 at 15:07

Thomas Mueller

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3 Comments

coding_idiot Over a year ago

can u give an example of using it in the above situation?

coding_idiot Over a year ago

I certainly thought the same thing and tried it, but it doesn't work! It only opens up a command window with current folder as the project root (same as mentioned in tony's comment above)

coding_idiot Over a year ago

I got the reason, check out my answer below

Joey · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-22 11:56:09Z

2

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd /C start \"\" \"C:/Documents and Settings/Zatko/My Documents/Project-Workspace/IUG/external/apps/archive/run-server.bat\"");

should work.

You need to quote arguments with spaces or shell metacharacters in them. And start expects the first quoted argument to be a window title, so give it an empty one so it's happy.

answered Jun 22, 2011 at 11:56

Joey

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coding_idiot · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-21 16:18:33Z

0

This works :

List<String> templst = new ArrayList<String>();

templst.add("cmd");

templst.add("/C");

templst.add("start");

templst.add("backup.bat");

Process p = rt.exec(templst.toArray(new String[]{}), null, new File(path));

answered Jun 21, 2011 at 16:18

coding_idiot

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1 Comment

coding_idiot Over a year ago

don't try to use /b flag, it doesn't work in that case. Instead simply write exit as the last command in your batch file.

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