Runtime.exec on argument containing multiple spaces

user_843627 0
Viewed 22754

How can I make the following run?

public class ExecTest {
  public static void main(String[] args) {
    try {
      //Notice the multiple spaces in the argument
      String[] cmd = {"explorer.exe", "/select,\"C:\\New      Folder\\file.txt\""};

      //btw this works
      //String cmd = "explorer.exe /select,\"C:\\New Folder\\file.txt\"";

      //and surprisingly this doesn't work
      //String[] cmd = {"explorer.exe", "/select,\"C:\\New Folder\\file.txt\""};

      //Update: and (as crazy as it seems) the following also worked
      //String[] cmd = {"explorer.exe", "/select,\"C:\\New", "Folder\\file.txt\""};

      Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);
    } catch (Exception e) {
        e.printStackTrace();
    }
  }
}

Using Java 6. Tested under Vista x64. By the way, taking the string that gets executed (you'll have to use the String version of exec to get it) and using it in the Search field of Vista's start menu will run as expected.

spaces exec runtime java
9 Answers

A better way to do it would be using ProcessBuilder object:

 Process p;
 p = new ProcessBuilder("/Applications/Sublime Text.app/Contents/MacOS/sublime_text", homeDir + _CURL_POST_PUT_CMDS).start();
 int exitValue = p.waitFor();
 if (exitValue != 0){
    System.out.println("Error to open " + homeDir + _CURL_POST_PUT_CMDS);
 }
user_69300170

Simple way to resolve this problem for files is java.awt.Desktop Since 1.6 Example: 

   Desktop.getDesktop().open(new File(fullFileName));
user_29794030
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