Execute ".bat" file that contains multiple lines from Java

Question

I have a folder named A that contains a .bat file: a.bat. If I wanted to write a .bat file I could write:

cd A/
call a.bat

and I would see the results, but if I want to run it from Java I have problems.

I'm trying to do this:

String command = "cmd.exe /c start cd A/\ncall a.bat";
try {
    Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command); 
} catch (IOException e) { }

I tried to replace \n with ; and with \r and with && but that didn't work. (It doesn't recognize that there exist two lines).

How can I run multiple lines from a .bat from Java?

See this one for some good options: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9680968/runtime-getruntime-exec-execute-two-lines — David Lavender, Feb 28 '13 at 10:55
as per a simple temporary solution , you can put these two lines in some other batch file and execute that only — Hussain Akhtar Wahid 'Ghouri', Feb 28 '13 at 11:00
I know that but the whole point of my program is to encapsulate this file. So creating a `.bat` file is not an option for me. — Maroun, Feb 28 '13 at 11:04
@MarounMaroun - check my response. See if it solves your problem? — Rahul, Feb 28 '13 at 11:06

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 28 '13 at 11:16

1

You can set the working directory for the process from the Java side at the point where you spawn cmd, rather than needing a cd command:

ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder("cmd.exe", "/c", "a.bat");
pb.directory(new File("path\\to\\A"));
Process p = pb.start();

answered Feb 28 '13 at 11:16

Ian Roberts

Is there a way to actually open the `CMD` window to see the results? – Maroun Feb 28 '13 at 11:22
@MarounMaroun maybe by using `start`, i.e. `new ProcessBuilder("cmd.exe", "/c", "start", "a.bat")`? I'm not a Windows user so I don't know for sure. – Ian Roberts Feb 28 '13 at 11:30

1 Answers1