[Rachna]

hi,
i m opening applications on Mac OS thru the "open" command. But the
problem arises when any directory or file name contains spaces. For
example, if i have a folder named "My Folder", then any file in this
folder can not be opened through this command.

similar problem is there when file name contains spaces.

can anybody suggest, what could be the solution.
Please help. Its urgent.

Rachna

[rw]

Three ways to do it:

(1) Use quotation marks: open "My Folder"

(2) Use the backslash as an escape character: open My\ Folder

(3) type the first few letters then hit Tab: open My<TAB>

[subpar]

single quotes works as well...

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[Rachna]

Thanx for ur prompt reply.
i have tried ur suggestions on the terminal, and they are working correctly.
but when i try to invoke the same command in Runtime.getRuntime().exec() method, it still does'nt work.
For Example i have tried:
suppose i want to open "System Folder"

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /System\\ Folder"); // for backslash
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open \"/System Folder\""); // for double quotes

but none of these is working.
Please help.

[The DJ]

Originally posted by Rachna:

but when i try to invoke the same command in Runtime.getRuntime().exec() method, it still does'nt work.
For Example i have tried:
suppose i want to open "System Folder"

Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /System\\ Folder"); // for backslash
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open \"/System Folder\""); // for double quotes

Dive into the JAVA documentation.
I used this with one of my apps. http://xamba.sourceforge.net/xamba/Xamba1b3.sit
Download this app and look into the sourcefiles. It is used many times.

DJ

[beeduul]

try: Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /System\ Folder");

a backslash is an escape sequence, which is used to express a character that can't be directly interpreted by the shell (or by the compiler, in the case of java) because it uses that character in another context. for example, the shell uses spaces to differentiate arguments on the command line. you need to either escape the space in your filename or you need to encase the filename in quotes. one or the other, but not both. but in java, you can't encase the filename in quotes because the compiler uses quotes to delineate strings and also because the exec function doesn't use quotes to qualify a filename (um, i think).

basically you need to understand the reasons for escaping different characters in the shell and in a string in java (or any other context where you need use an escape sequence).

ok, that rambled on a little, but uh, good luck. and corrections welcome.

[billybob]

Originally posted by beeduul:
try: Runtime.getRuntime().exec("open /System\ Folder");

I believe he was using two \\ 's on purpose. For example, in PHP you use one \ as an escape character, or two \\'s if you actually want a \

I dont know java at all though (and I assume that is what this is based on comments?)

[Rachna]

I have not yet got any solution to the spaces problem. I have tried to do it through double quotes and backslashs , it works fine in terminal but it is not working in my java program. And my ultimate aim is to open the applications through the java programs. For this i m using open command.

what could be the solution.
Please help. Its urgent.
Thanx

[edddeduck]

Do some reading up on the sun webpage thay might be able to help also mail apple....

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I Took The Red Pill

[gorgonzola]

Moving this to the OS X Developer forum. Click through to find yourself.

thanks

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[eyadams]

Try Runtime.exec(String[] cmdarray) instead, as in

String[] cmd = {"open", "/System Folder"};
Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);

If the parameters need to be escaped, it should happen automatically.

[Rachna]

My problem has been solved at last.
The syntax which did the work is:

String cmd[] = {"open", "/System Folder"};
Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd);

thanx very much for all ur help.
Rachna