From: Mohit Sindhwani <mo_mail@...>
Date: 2008-10-26T19:13:38+09:00
Subject: Re: How to invoke Windows program with a Ruby command

RichardOnRails wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I've got a command that works in the Command Window of WinXP-Pro/SP3:
>
> F:\Docume~1\AllUse~1\StartM~1\Programs\_Microsoft
> \Micros~3\Micros~2.lnk
> K:\_Projects\Ruby\_Rails_Apps\PayrollLoader\TestSheet.xls
>
> As I write this post,  the command is written on two lines.  But in
> the Command Windows are submitted as a single line with a space
> separating the program from the argument.  The command brings up Excel
> with the content from the file named in the program's argument.
>
> However, I have not been able to get this to work in Ruby with
> system(pgm_name, file_name).  The command does nothing.  It doesn't
> crash, as evidenced by the fact that following commands are executed
> correctly.
>
> How can I achieve the Command Window result with Ruby 1.8.6?
>   
Took me a while to get this working. 

Here's what works:
#make sure that the name of the executable is within quotes
exec_link = "\"c:\\Documents and Settings\\Mohit\\Start Menu\\Quick 
Start\\TextPad.lnk\""
#make sure that the document name is within quotes
doc_name = "\"e:\\projects\\tedn01\\extract\\01.extract_styles.rb\""

#launch the 'link' using cmd
my_exec = "cmd /C \"#{exec_link} #{doc_name}\" "

puts my_exec
ret = system(my_exec)
puts ret

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Mohit.
10/26/2008 | 6:13 PM.