How to pass character array in system() function in c++?

Question

I want to execute linux commands using c++ platform and I am using system() but when i write:

cout<<"Enter the command"<<endl;
cin>>arraystring[size];

system(arraystring.c_str());

it gives error!

a4.cpp: In function ‘int main()’:
a4.cpp:75:20: error: request for member ‘c_str’ in ‘arraystring’, which is of non-class type ‘std::string [100] {aka std::basic_string<char> [100]}’
 system(arraystring.c_str());

What should i do to overcome this error?

is there any other way to execute linux commands using c++ platform?? — mahnoor fatima
– mahnoor fatima, Commented Mar 22, 2015 at 6:19
Not according to your error message, unless you've used a preprocessor macro to define char as std::string. — Benjamin Lindley
– Benjamin Lindley, Commented Mar 22, 2015 at 6:21
char* is not a class it's a pointer to a basic data type in c++, consequently it has no member functions such as c_str() — youssef
– youssef, Commented Mar 22, 2015 at 6:50

shauryachats · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-22 06:36:43Z

2

Actually, you have defined your arraystring variable as:

string arraystring[100];

Hence, when you write the statement

system(arraystring.c_str);

arraystring being an array of std::string, gives the error.

Change it to:

system(arraystring[size].c_str());

answered Mar 22, 2015 at 6:36

shauryachats

10.5k4 gold badges38 silver badges48 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

R Sahu · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-22 06:24:02Z

1

You can use:

std::string command;
std::cout << "Enter the command" << endl;
std::cin >> command;

system(command.c_str());

That will work as long as command is just one word. If you want to use multi-word commands, you can use:

std::getline(std::cin, command);
system(command.c_str());

answered Mar 22, 2015 at 6:24

R Sahu

207k15 gold badges168 silver badges291 bronze badges

5 Comments

mahnoor fatima Over a year ago

ok thanks it works but is there any other way to run linux commands on c++ platform as we are prohibited to use system call by our instructor.

mahnoor fatima Over a year ago

and i cannnor upvote you need 15 reputations, can you give me a reputation??

R Sahu Over a year ago

@mahnoorfatima, it's ok. You can upvote when you can. There is no need to hurry.

youssef Over a year ago

if you have a book in standard c++ programming you wont get so much knowledge about linux system calls but while you are reading standard c++, you can have a look to manual pages of linux c and c++ system calls

youssef Over a year ago

in terminal it is very useful to use man page you can try man fork and etc. In your linux terminal comand line you will get a very useful instruction on how to use these functions in your program

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to pass character array in system() function in c++?

2 Answers 2

Comments

5 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

5 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related