Need help with Runtime class in UNIX

Question

I am attempting to kick off a C++ executable from within java. This class is called through a UI.
The executable runs in the form of the exec followed by name=value pairs, ie [path/exec] [n=v] [n=v] ... and runs fine from the command line.
Examples: These don't kick it off, but don't error either.
String cmd[] = {"/bin/sh","-c","[path]/[exec] [n=v]};
String cmd[] = new String[3];
cmd[0] = "[path]/[exec]";
cmd[1] = "[n=v]";
cmd[2] = "[n=v]";
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);
I'm thinking it may be an environment issue, ie env vars not set because the only way I can get this to work is to put the command in a shell script that sets the env vars and kicks off the executable. Like:
String cmd[] = {"/bin/sh","-c","/[path]/test.sh"};
I'd prefer to kick this off from the java code. It sounds like I need to find a way to shell out, run our script to set env vars, then kick off the exec. This is my first attempt w/ using Runtime, so maybe I'm missing something.
Thanks in advance for the help.

Answer 1

I think this sort of thing will depend upon the shell you're in. When you use Runtime.exec you (might) lose your "parent" shell's environment variables - this question shows up here now and again, here's one thread that might help:
http://forum.java.sun.com/thread.jspa?threadID=468648&messageID=2172572
You might find some enlightenment on Roedy's Java Glossary here: http://mindprod.com/jgloss/exec.html
Hope that helped
Lee