Spaces in java execute path for OS X

Question

On OS X, I am trying to .exec something, but when a path contains a space, it doesn't work. I've tried surrounding the path with quotes, escaping the space, and even using \u0020.

For example, this works:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /foldername/toast.sh");

But if there's a space, none of these work:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /folder name/toast.sh");

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open \"/folder name/toast.sh\"");

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /folder\\ name/toast.sh");

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /folder\u0020name/toast.sh");

Ideas?

Edit: Escaped backslash... still no worky.

Jarret Hardie · Accepted Answer · 2009-03-30 15:22:47Z

13

There's a summary of this problem on Sun's forums... seems to be a pretty common issue not restricted to OS X.

The last post in the thread summarizes the proposed solution. In essence, use the form of Runtime.exec that takes a String[] array:

String[] args = new String[] { "open", "\"/folder name/toast.sh\"" };

or (the forum suggests this will work too)

String[] args = new String[] { "open", "folder name/toast.sh" };

answered Mar 30, 2009 at 15:22

Jarret Hardie

98.4k10 gold badges135 silver badges127 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

Glenn Over a year ago

Thanks! FYI I had a few extra flags in the real program and if you use an array like this, you then have to break up everything. Example: String[] args = new String[] { "open", "-n", "folder name/toast.sh" };

Joe Over a year ago

Dead link now :( anyone know where I can find a replacement link?

Paul Tomblin · Accepted Answer · 2009-03-30 15:25:50Z

1

Try this:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /folder\\ name/toast.sh");

"\ " will just put a space in the string, but "\ " will put a "\ " in the string, which will be passed to the shell, and the shell will escape the space.

If that doesn't work, pass in the arguments as an array, one element for each argument. That way the shell doesn't get involved and you don't need bizarre escapes.

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"open", "/folder name/toast.sh"});

edited Mar 30, 2009 at 15:25

answered Mar 30, 2009 at 15:13

Paul Tomblin

184k59 gold badges324 silver badges412 bronze badges

1 Comment

Glenn Over a year ago

oops, that was a typo on my part, I have tried and this doesn't work.

Paul Gregoire · Accepted Answer · 2009-12-07 20:18:13Z

0

Paul's option works, but you still must escape the spaces like so:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"open", "/folder\\ name/toast.sh"});

The thing that sucks about using a String array is that each param and its option must be in their own element. For instance you cannot do this:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"executable", "-r -x 1", "/folder\\ name/somefile"});

But instead must specify it like so:

Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{"executable", "-r", "-x", "1", "/folder\\ name/somefile"});

answered Dec 7, 2009 at 20:18

Paul Gregoire

9,80511 gold badges69 silver badges136 bronze badges

Comments

andude · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-16 00:15:51Z

0

In Kotlin, I was able to escape white spaces using templated strings.

private const val chromeExec = "/Applications/Google 
Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google Chrome"
Runtime.getRuntime().exec(arrayOf("$browserExec", url))

answered Jan 16, 2022 at 0:15

andude

5201 gold badge5 silver badges11 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Spaces in java execute path for OS X

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

2 Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related