Runtime.getRuntime().exec - relies on the J2RE?

Well here is a problem...
My program works fine using the Runtime.getRuntime().exec command, and the program works as-intended on my computer. But that's because I have the latest and greatest Java apparel (especially the J2RE).
Now, a friend of mine who does not program, took my program and tried it on his computer. It worked (the GUI loaded and buttons functioned) but it didn't actually do anything other than serve as a nice-looking GUI lol.
The problem was, it was creating the file I had it create (using FileWriter) but it wasn't EXECUTING that file like I designed the program to.
I used the Runtime.getRuntime().exec to execute the file - my question is, if the person doesn't have the Java Runtime Environment, will that command work? He clearly has Java on his computer (the GUI loaded) but he might not have the J2RE...
Any thoughts? Any suggestions for an alternative way to execute a file?
Thanks!
-Josh

I don't understand why this wont work on other
people's computers...
I create the file "commands.bat" in their C:\
directory. I then have the following command to
execute it:
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd.exe /c
\"C:\\crasher.bat\"");It works perfect for me... But it doesn't work for
other people. For other people, it creates the batch
file in the right place, it just wont execute it and
I am not sure why...
-JoshYou said "commands.bat" but your code is executing "crasher.bat". I have the feeling you're trying to crash their computers or something?
cmd.exe is an executable on certain flavors of Windows. Other flavors of Windows have command.exe, not cmd.exe. So you have to pick the same platform, or make the actual command that you execute be dynamic (read it from a property file to determine what to execute).
Go to those other machines and see if you can execute that same command from the command line. Do some debugging for pete's sake.

Similar Messages

Runtime.getRuntime.exec() not working with through Servlet

Hi ,
I want to open a IE from servlet,I am using a Runtime.getRuntime.exec to open the browser ,but my servlet is executing but IE is not opening...Here i am using TomcatServer...Is any settings to be Done in TomcatServer.
My Servlet code is
public void doGet(HttpServletRequest request,
HttpServletResponse response)
throws IOException, ServletException
     String s1 = "C:/Program Files/Internet Explorer/IEXPLORE.EXE";
     String s2 = "http://192.168.0.149:8080/etk/etk3.htm";
     Runtime runtime = Runtime.getRuntime();
     runtime.exec(s1 + " " + s2);
i know it is contrary to the purpose servlets are meant for.but i am using for different purpose..
help me on this one...
Thanks in Advance

No, I am using the right path, I am sure. Also I tried giving the absolute path of the UserGuide.pdf. Still it cannot find. Please anyone try spawning an application from a different directory and lemme know your openion.
Regards,
Thomas.

Executing a command by Runtime.getRuntime.exec().

Hi,
I am try to run a java command from one java program. Is it possible
eg :
public class A {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String startjvm ="java -classpath E:\classes B";
Runtime.getRuntime.exec(startjvm);
public class B {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Inside the main for class B");
when i execute the above command from the command line it executes,but when are run the main method for class A nothing happens meaning the message : "Inside the main for class B" is not displayed.
I also tried displaying the int returned by process.waitfor() method. process is the object returned by the Runtime.getRuntime.exec() method. The int returned is 0 which means the process terminated previously.
Thanks in advance

You could get InputStream from created Process and read
information from it.
For example
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
public class A {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        try{
            String startjvm ="java -classpath E:\\classes B";
            Process s = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(startjvm);
            BufferedReader in = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(s.getInputStream()));
            String line = "";
            while ((line = in.readLine()) != null) {
                System.out.println(line);
            in.close();
        }catch(Exception e){
            e.printStackTrace();
    }

Syntax of Runtime.getRuntime().exec()

i hava batch file command (genXML) in directory C:\update ,this command syntax is: genXML sourceFile resultFile outputDirectory
how can I run the command with Runtime.getRuntime().exec() ?
Thanks

i hava batch file command (genXML) in directory
C:\update ,this command syntax is: genXML sourceFile
resultFile outputDirectory
how can I run the command with
Runtime.getRuntime().exec() ?
Thanksuse the
public Process exec(String[] cmdarray)
version of exec as follows:
where genProg is the path and name of your genXML program
ie. genProg = "C:\\update\\genXML.exe"
String[] cmd = {genProg, source, results, outputDir};

How would you capture the stdout of Runtime.getRuntime().exec())?

How would you capture the stdout of Runtime.getRuntime().exec())?
Say you wanted to execute PKZIP25.exe from java using Runtime.getRuntime().exec(). How would you capture the output of PKZIP25 (the console IO) in a file so you could check the results?
Thanks
Bill Blalock

Thanks.
Could you explain a little more?
The program I am calling seems to be executing, as far as Java is concerned, but nothing happens. I imagine I have made mistakes in calling it but can't see the output to the console.
Should I use Runtime.getRuntime().exec() or Runtime.exec() for something like this?
I appreciate the help!
Bill B.

Runtime.getRuntime().exec hangs and doesn't print the output

Hi,
I have written the following code to execute the command "psexec ipaddress -u userid -p password -l -c execute.exe >> c:/25_showoutpout.txt" and print the output in 25_showoutpout.txt file.
import java.io.*;
public class ExecTest{
     public static void main(String args[]) throws IOException{
     String args1 = "psexec ipaddress -u userid -p password -l -c execute.exe >> c:/25_showoutpout.txt";
     try{
     Process p=Runtime.getRuntime().exec(args1);
int i = p.waitFor();
     System.out.println("Done.with time "+i);
     }catch(Exception e){
          System.out.println("The error is "+e);
But this program hangs and creates a blank 25_showoutpout.txt file.In the process list I can see the process running, but it doesn't redirect the output in the txt file.When i run the command from the command line it runs fine.Please help me.
Thanks in advance

Hi,
I have written the following program to get the output.But still the required output is not coming in the console file.Only the messages that gets printed in the parent console that is coming in the file.But the expected output is to get the messages from the child window which gets executed while the .exe runs.
import java.io.*;
public class RuntimeExecTest{
public static void main(String args[]){
String s = null;
String result= null;
int count =0;
try{
          // read the output from the command
String cmd = "cmd.exe /c D:/installer/PsTools.zip/PsTools/psexec.exe ipaddress -u userid -p password -l -c excute.exe >> C:/RuntimeExec_25.txt";
     Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);
     InputStream is = p.getInputStream();
     // Get the std in to the process.
     OutputStream os = p.getOutputStream();
     // Get the std err from the process.
     InputStream es = p.getErrorStream();
     // Create readers for those streams.
     BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is));
     BufferedReader errReader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(es));
     String line;
     // Read STDOUT into a buffer.
     // If no STDOUT check STDERR.
     while((line = errReader.readLine()) != null){
          // Do something with data here if you wish.
     System.out.println( line );
     while((line = reader.readLine()) != null){
          // Do something with data here if you wish.
     System.out.println( line );
     System.exit(0);
catch( Exception ex )
ex.printStackTrace();
}

Unable to run certain commands on unix using the Runtime.getRuntime().exec(

Hi Folks,
I am unable to get any output if I try : Runtime.getRuntime().exec("who am i")
however for Runtime.getRuntime().exec("pwd") I am getting the present working directory path !!!
if I give Runtime.getRuntime().exec("echo $PATH") then instead of printing the path it prints $PATH instead !!! similarly it is unable to understand any of the special unix characters such as " or ' & is assuming it to be a literal instead.
Any idea why this is happening ?? and any solution for the same
regards
Anand

I don't think that Runtime.getRuntime().exec() spawns a shell it just executes the file that is specified in the string. ecause of this you can not use commands that are built-in in the shell directly nor use special shell characters. You must spawn your own shell, try something like this:
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("sh");I'm sure you can add some switch to sh to execute a command by I am not using unix myself so I don't know how. Someone else have to help you with that. You can allways read the man-pages.

How to execute an application in Solaris using Runtime.getRuntime.exec() ?

I am currently doing a project which requires the execution of Solaris applications through the use of Java Servlet with this Runtime method - Runtime.getRuntime.exec()
This means that if the client PC tries to access the servlet in the server PC, an application is supposed to be executed and launched on the server PC itself. Actually, the servlet part is not an issue as the main problem is the executing of applications in different platforms which is a big headache.
When I tried running this program on a Windows 2000 machine, it works perfectly fine. However, when I tried it on a Solaris machine, nothing happens. And I mean nothing... no errors, no nothing. I really don't know what's wrong.
Here's the code.
public void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response)
     throws ServletException, IOException
     response.setContentType("text/html");
     PrintWriter out = response.getWriter();
          Process process;                                                       Runtime runtime = Runtime.getRuntime();
          String com= "sh /opt/home/acrobat/";
          String program = request.getParameter("program");
          try
                    process = runtime.exec(com);
          catch (Exception e)
               out.println(e);
It works under Windows when com = "c:\winnt\system32\notepad.exe"
When under Solaris, I have tried everything possible. For example, the launching of the application acrobat.
com = "/opt/home/acrobat"
com = "sh /opt/home/acrobat"I have also tried reading in the process and then printing it out. It doesn't work either. It only works when excuting commands like 'ls'
BufferedReader read = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(process.getInputStream()));Why is it such a breeze to execute prgrams under Windows while there are so many problems under Solaris.
Can some experts please please PLEASE point out the errors and give me some advice and help to make this program work under Solaris! Please... I really need to do this!!
My email address - [email protected]
I appreciate it.
By the way, I'm coding and compiling in a Windows 2000 machine before ftp'ing the .class file to the Solaris server machine to run.

it is possible that you are trying to run a program that is going to display a window on an X server, but you have not specified a display. You specifiy a display by setting the DISPLAY environment variable eg.
setenv DISPLAY 10.0.0.1:0
To check that runtime.exec is working you should try to run a program that does not reqire access to an X Server. Try something like
cmd = "sh -c 'ls -l > ~/testlist.lst'";
alternatively try this
cmd = "sh -c 'export DISPLAY=127.0.0.1:0;xterm '"
you will also need to permit access to the X server using the xhost + command

How to get return value from Java runtime.getRuntime.exec?

I'm running shell commands from an Oracle db (11gr2) on aix.
But, I would like to get a return value from a shell comand... like you get with "echo $?"
I use a code like
CREATE OR REPLACE JAVA SOURCE NAMED common."Host" AS
import java.io.*;
public class Host {
public static int executeCommand(String command) {
    int retval=0;
    try {
        String[] finalCommand;
        finalCommand = new String[3];
        finalCommand[0] = "/bin/sh";
        finalCommand[1] = "-c";
        finalCommand[2] = command;
      final Process pr = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(finalCommand);
      pr.waitFor();
   catch (Exception ex) {
      System.out.println(ex.getLocalizedMessage());
      retval=-1;
    return retval;
/but I do not get a return value... because I don't know how to get return value..
Edited by: user9158455 on 22-Sep-2010 07:33

Hi,
Have your tried pr.exitValue() ?
I think you also need a finally block that destroys the subprocess
Regards
Peter

Strange behaviour of Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command)

hello guys,
i wrote a program which executes some commands in commandline (actually tried multiple stuff.)
what did i try?
open "cmd.exe" manually (administrator)
type "echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%" and hit enter, which returns me
"AMD64"
type "java -version" and hit enter, which returns me:
"java version "1.6.0_10-beta"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-beta-b25)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0-b12, mixed mode)"
type "reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\7-zip"" returns me:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\7-zip
Path REG_SZ C:\Program Files\7-Zip\
i wrote two functions to execute an command
1) simply calls exec and reads errin and stdout from the process started:
public static String execute(String command) {
          String result = "";
          try {
               // Execute a command
               Process child = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
               // Read from an input stream
               InputStream in = child.getInputStream();
               int c;
               while ((c = in.read()) != -1) {
                    result += ((char) c);
               in.close();
               in = child.getErrorStream();
               while ((c = in.read()) != -1) {
                    result += ((char) c);
               in.close();
          } catch (IOException e) {
          return result;
     }the second function allows me to send multiple commands to the cmd
public static String exec(String[] commands) {
          String line;
          String result = "";
          OutputStream stdin = null;
          InputStream stderr = null;
          InputStream stdout = null;
          // launch EXE and grab stdin/stdout and stderr
          try {
               Process process;
               process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("cmd.exe");
               stdin = process.getOutputStream();
               stderr = process.getErrorStream();
               stdout = process.getInputStream();
               // "write" the parms into stdin
               for (int i = 0; i < commands.length; i++) {
                    line = commands[i] + "\n";
                    stdin.write(line.getBytes());
                    stdin.flush();
               stdin.close();
               // clean up if any output in stdout
               BufferedReader brCleanUp = new BufferedReader(
                         new InputStreamReader(stdout));
               while ((line = brCleanUp.readLine()) != null) {
                    result += line + "\n";
               brCleanUp.close();
               // clean up if any output in stderr
               brCleanUp = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(stderr));
               while ((line = brCleanUp.readLine()) != null) {
                    result += "ERR: " + line + "\n";
               brCleanUp.close();
          } catch (IOException e) {
               // TODO Auto-generated catch block
               e.printStackTrace();
          return result;
     }so i try to execute the commands from above (yes, i am using \\ and \" in java)
(1) "echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%"
(2) "java -version"
(3) "reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\7-zip""
the first function returns me (note that ALL results are different from the stuff above!):
(1) "" <-- empty ?!
(2) java version "1.6.0_11"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_11-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b16, mixed mode, sharing)
(3) ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
the second function returns me:
(1) x86 <-- huh? i have AMD64
(2) java version "1.6.0_11"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_11-b03)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 11.0-b16, mixed mode, sharing)
(3) ERROR: The system was unable to find the specified registry key or value.
horray! in this version the java version is correct! processor architecture is not empty but totally incorrect and the reg query is still err.
any help is wellcome
note: i only put stuff here, which returns me strange behaviour, most things are working correct with my functions (using the Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command); code)
note2: "reg query "HKLM\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\System\CentralProcessor\0" /t REG_SZ" IS working, so why are "some" queries result in ERR, while they are working if typed by hand in cmd.exe?

ok, i exported a jar file and execute it from cmd:
java -jar myjar.jar
now the output is:
(1) "" if called by version 1, possible to retrieve by version 2 (no clue why!)
(2) "java version "1.6.0_10-beta"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_10-beta-b25)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0-b12, mixed mode)"
(3) C:\Program Files\7-Zip\
so all three problems are gone! (but its a hard way, as i need both functions and parse a lot of text... :/ )
thanks for the tip, that eclipse changes variables (i really did not knew this one...)

Runtime.getRuntime.exec() not working when Tomcat is made a windows Sevice

Hi,
I am working on a web application which launches a exe file on subitting the form. I am using Apache Tomcat 4.0.6 to run the web application. Initially Tomcat was not made a windows service on my machine and when I launch an exe it is launching without any problems. I used the following command to launch the exe file:
<code>
Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("C:\\Program Files\\Mercury Interactive\\WinRunner\\arch\\wrun.exe" + strWROptions);
</code>
The above command launches WinRunner on the local machine.
without using tomcat if I just compile and run a test program with this command, the exe is launching perfectly. But, Once I made tomcat a windows service on my machine the exe is not launching.
Also, a process is being created in the windows task bar named wrun.exe once I submit the form but WinRunner is not lauching on the desktop.
Can any one please help and suggest me.
Thanks,
Ramesh

The version of Java I am using is 1.4.2. Even without
using the string array as you mentioned, the exe
(wrun.exe) is launched on my desktop if I don't run
Tomcat as a windows service. But the problem arises on
making it a service :-(
That is strange because going by the documentation what you have been using should never work. I can't test it though, I'm not on MSWindows at the moment..
Now, when I use this string array convention, I am
getting an error saying "The tool could not launch..
some error occured".
That's not a Java error message, it must come from WinRunner. This means that you have succesfully started WinRunner (great!) but something else is wrong; maybe the parameters you pass to it are incorrect.
How would you run it on the command line? Like this?wrun -t "D:\L5_QE\L5A\Initial" -create_text_report on -runThat line executes the wrun program and passes it five parameters, not three. The first parameter is "-t", the second "D:\L5_QE\L5A\Initial", the third "-create_text_report", the fourth "on", and the fifth "-run". The array of strings that corresponds to that line isString[] command = {"C:\\Program Files\\Mercury Interactive\\WinRunner\\arch\\wrun.exe",
                "-t", "D:\\L5_QE\\L5A\\Initial",
                "-create_text_report", "on",
                "-run"};

PROBLEM in executing a shell command through Runtime.getRuntime().exec()

Hi all,
I was trying to execute the following code:
import java.io.BufferedReader;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.InputStreamReader;
import java.sql.CallableStatement;
import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.DriverManager;
import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
import java.sql.Statement;
import java.sql.ResultSet;
* Created on Mar 13, 2007
* To change the template for this generated file go to
* Window>Preferences>Java>Code Generation>Code and Comments
* @author 195092
* To change the template for this generated type comment go to
* Window>Preferences>Java>Code Generation>Code and Comments
public class ClassReportDeleteDaemon {
     ClassReportDeleteDaemon()
     public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
          Connection conn = null;
          Statement stmt = null;
          ResultSet rs;
          String strQuery = null;
          String strdaysback = null;
          String delstring = null;
          int daysback;
          try
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: FINDING DRIVER");
               Class.forName("oracle.jdbc.driver.OracleDriver");
          catch(Exception e)
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: DRIVER EXCEPTION--" + e.getMessage());
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: DRIVER NOT FOUND");
          try
               String strUrl = "jdbc:Oracle:thin:" + args[0] + "/" + args[1] + "@" + args[2];
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: TRYING FOR JDBC CONNECTION");
               conn = DriverManager.getConnection(strUrl);
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: SUCCESSFUL CONNECTION");
               while(true)
                    System.out.println("WHILE LOOP");
                    stmt = conn.createStatement();
                    strQuery = "SELECT REP_DAYS_OLD FROM T_REPORT_DEL";
                    rs = stmt.executeQuery(strQuery);
                    while(rs.next())
                         strdaysback = rs.getString("REP_DAYS_OLD");
                         //daysback = Integer.parseInt(strdaysback);
                    System.out.print("NO of Days===>" + strdaysback);
                    delstring = "find /tmp/reports1 -name " + "\"" + "*" + "\"" + " -mtime +" + strdaysback + " -print|xargs rm -r";
                    System.out.println("DELETE STRING===>" + delstring);
                    Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(delstring);
                    //Get error stream to display error messages encountered during execution of command
                    InputStream errStream=proc.getErrorStream();
                    //Get error stream to display output messages encountered during execution of command
                    InputStream inStream = proc.getInputStream();
                    InputStreamReader strReader = new InputStreamReader(errStream);
                    BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(strReader);
                    String strLine = null;
                    while((strLine=br.readLine())!=null)
                         System.out.println(strLine);
               }     //end of while loop
          }     //end of try
          catch (Exception e)
               System.out.println("REPORT DELETION ::: EXCEPTION---" + e.getMessage());
               conn.close();
     }     //end of main
}     //end of ClassReportDeleteDaemon
But it is giving the error "BAD OPTION -print|xargs". The command run well in shell.
Please help.
Thanking u.......

Since the pipe '|' is interpreted by the shell then you need the shell to invoke your command
        String[] command = {"sh","-c","find /tmp/reports1 -name " + "\"" + "*" + "\"" + " -mtime +" + strdaysback + " -print|xargs rm -r"};
        final Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
You should also read http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-12-2000/jw-1229-traps.html at least twice and implement the recommendation regarding stdout and stderr.
P.S. Why are you not using Java to find and delete these files?
Message was edited by:
sabre150

Running curl command from a java program using Runtime.getRuntime.exec

for some reason my curl command does not run when I run it from within my java program and errors out with "https protocol not supported". This same curl command however runs fine from any directory on my red hat linux system.
To debug the problem, I printed my curl command from the java program before calling Runtime.getRuntime.exec command and then used this o/p to run from the command line and it runs fine.
I am not using libcurl or anything else, I am running a simple curl command as a command line utility from inside a Java program.
Any ideas on why this might be happening?

thanks a lot for your response. The reason why I am using curl is because I need to use certificates and keys to gain access to the internal server. So I use curl "<url> --cert <path to the certificate>" --key "<path to the key>". If you don't mid could you please tell me which version of curl you are using.
I am using 7.15 in my system.
Below is the code which errors out.
public int execCurlCmd(String command)
          String s = null;
          try {
              // run the Unix "ps -ef" command
                 Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
                 BufferedReader stdInput = new BufferedReader(new
                      InputStreamReader(p.getInputStream()));
                 BufferedReader stdError = new BufferedReader(new
                      InputStreamReader(p.getErrorStream()));
                 // read the output from the command
                 System.out.println("Here is the standard output of the command:\n");
                 while ((s = stdInput.readLine()) != null) {
                     System.out.println(s);
                 // read any errors from the attempted command
                 System.out.println("Here is the standard error of the command (if any):\n");
                 while ((s = stdError.readLine()) != null) {
                     System.out.println(s);
                 return(0);
             catch (IOException e) {
                 System.out.println("exception happened - here's what I know: ");
                 e.printStackTrace();
                 return(-1);
     }

How to use Runtime.getRuntime().exec() in JSP? is it works in JSP or not

Hi to all,
i want run a .exe file from JSP file. In java i am able do this, using Runtime.getRuntime().exec().
but same thing, when i trying with JSP it is not working?
plz let me is there any other ways to do it..

It depends, usually (ie in an J2EE container) you're not allowed to access files or the runtime environment, by definition. What do you wan't to achieve with the exe?
--olaf

Runtime.getRuntime().exec and quoted strings?

Attempting to execute a command containing a quoted string. Being very new to Java I'm guessing I'm not doing it right. Below are two code bits the first one works the second doesn't. So the question is "How do I use quoted strings in a command with .exec?"
// this one works
try {
p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("ls -l tst.java");
p.waitFor();
System.out.println("Done!");
catch(Throwable e) {
system.out.println("Errors!");
// this one fails
try {
p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("ls -l \"tst.java\"");
p.waitFor();
System.out.println("Done!");
catch(Throwable e) {
system.out.println("Errors!");

I don't know if it is too late for the answer, but I think I know what the problem is.
You are using exec(String) method, and passed String parameter is parsed using StringTokenizer class. This means that when you use quotes as in "file1 file2", StringTokenizer parses this as "file1 and then file2" so it is not understandable command.
To solve the problem, do not use exec(String) method, use exec(String[])
Using this you can send separate command and separate parameters as in following example:
If you want to send (in Unix)
grep "SHOW lotid" text.txt
(using exec("grep \"SHOW lotid\" text.txt") would not work)
Do the following
exec(new String[]{"grep", "SHOW lotid", "text.txt"});
This avoids parsing problem when quotes are used.
Mehmed

Runtime.getRuntime().exec - relies on the J2RE?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for