Php exec command not working on Windows, works on command line

Question

I am trying to execute the following command via PHP's exec function:

D:\\pstill -F a4 -2 -c -c -c -c -g -i -t -K -d 700 -a 4 -m XimgAsCMYK -m Xspot -m Xoverprint -o D:\\outputfile.pdf D:\\new.jpg

It doesn't generate any output. But if I directly paste the command on the command line then it works...

Note: it takes a bit of time to complete when run directly on command line.

Do you receive any error message? Could you please tell us your code (not only the command you are executing)? — Briareos386
– Briareos386, Commented Jan 16, 2012 at 13:31
exec("pstill -F a4 -2 -c -c -c -c -g -i -t -K -d 700 -a 4 -m XimgAsCMYK -m Xspot -m Xoverprint -o D:\\outputfile.pdf D:\\input.jpg"); — Salman
– Salman, Commented Jan 16, 2012 at 13:34
Make sure that your webserver's userid has the appropriate permissions to execute pstill, and read/write permissions on the D:\ root directory/drive. — Marc B
– Marc B, Commented Jan 16, 2012 at 14:17

Community · Accepted Answer · 2023-11-17 19:53:52Z

5

I would suggest using shell_exec instead of exec function here. shell_exec executes command via appropriate shell (WIndows / Unix etc) and returns the complete output as a string to you.

edited Nov 17, 2023 at 19:53

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answered Jan 16, 2012 at 13:42

anubhava

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JJJ · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-16 13:44:47Z

4

If your command is this:

exec("pstill -F a4 -2 -c -c -c -c -g -i -t -K -d 700 -a 4 -m XimgAsCMYK -m Xspot -m Xoverprint -o D:\\outputfile.pdf D:\\input.jpg");

PHP escapes the backslashes, so the command that reaches the shell is ... D:\outputfile.pdf D:\input.jpg. You have to double-escape the backslashes: once for PHP and once for the shell.

exec("pstill -F a4 -2 -c -c -c -c -g -i -t -K -d 700 -a 4 -m XimgAsCMYK -m Xspot -m Xoverprint -o D:\\\\outputfile.pdf D:\\\\input.jpg");

answered Jan 16, 2012 at 13:44

JJJ

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:17:56Z

0

for me the solution was to

run apache in a terminal window instead of a service.

see this thread: apache service php exec not working

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:17

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answered Apr 30, 2017 at 16:50

swisswiss

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