How to call cmd batch from within powershell script

Question

I have

C:\folder\tail.exe

C:\logs\logfile.log

C:\script\shellscript.ps1

How do I run the C:\folder\tail.exe from within the C:\script\shellscript.ps1

I need to run "C:\folder\tailf.exe C:\logs\logfile.log" from within C:\script\shellscript.ps1 but without relying a seperate batch file, i need to call it directly.

Normally I do: cd C:\folder\ and then tailf.exe C:\logs\logfile.log

Inside C:\script\shellscript.ps1 I tried

start-process C:\fetchmail\tail.exe -argumentlist "C:\fetchmail\logs\fetchmail.log"

i can see a window flashing but dont know if it works, the window should stay open.

manojlds · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-20 04:32:37Z

7

You can do what you normally do:

C:\folder\tail.exe c:\logs\logfile.log

Note that if the paths have spaces in them you have to do:

& "C:\fol der\tail.exe" "c:\log s\logfile.log"

answered Jan 20, 2012 at 4:32

manojlds

303k66 gold badges482 silver badges426 bronze badges

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

Comments

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

3

To accomplish tail.exe running in a separate window and not having the window closed immediately, try:

cmd /k c:\folder\tail.exe c:\logs\test.log
To start tail.exe in the powershell window, try:

C:\folder\tail.exe c:\logs\logfile.log
Assuming tail.exe is Tail for Win32, this is a powershell equivalent of your command:

get-content c:\logs\logfile.log | select -last 10
In the Powershell Community Extensions there is a Get-FileTail cmdlet which is a more efficient native powershell tail equivalent.

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Jan 20, 2012 at 13:03

jon Z

16.7k1 gold badge37 silver badges35 bronze badges

1 Comment

Joey Over a year ago

You can just type cmd /k c:\folder\tail.exe c:\logs\test.log in PowerShell. It's a shell after all. There are some idiosyncrasies with arguments to programs but they don't apply here

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to call cmd batch from within powershell script

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related