From: Michael Bruschkewitz <brusch2@...>
Date: 2003-02-18T02:25:37+09:00
Subject: Strange behaviour of system("start ...") [1.6.8,W2k]

Hello,
I found this strange behaviour of system(), which is really annoying:

system ("start dir") fails, unless a file start.cmd (all executable 
extensions possible?) exists in the current directory (path?).
Win2k, Ruby 1.6.8

This is what is described in the the book ("Pickaxe" I guess), where is 
a forwarder in the description of the arguments "arguments are handled 
the same manner as exec does". (I retranslate from german text.)
In exec-parameter description is written "executes an external command".

But, the content of the file doesn't matter, really executed is the 
start-command. So the file should not be needed, or the file should be 
executed instead of the command.

I can't imagine current behaviour is wanted.
Sorry I've now not enough time to dig into the 1.6.8-code to find the 
exact reason for this behaviour.

Regards,
Michael B.