Execute command from java which might include spaces

Question

I am trying to execute the following command from a java program: java -jar /opt/plasma/fr.inria.plasmalab.plasmalab-1.3.4.jar -t -a montecarlo -A"Total samples"=1000 -m models/translated/plasma/NaCl2.rml:rml --format csv -r models/translated/plasma/NaCl2.bltl:bltl

with the following code:

String totalSample  = "-A\"Total samples\"=1000";
String mcCommand = "java -jar " + MChecker.getAppPath() + " -t "
                + "-a " + "montecarlo " + totalSample
                + " -m " + mcModelRelPath + ":rml " + "--format " + "csv "
                + "-r " + customQueryRelPath + ":bltl";

Process process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(mcCommand);
        int errCode = process.waitFor();
        //then get the output, and error

But it results in the following error: Wrong parameter description : Dynamic parameter expected a value of the form a=b but got:"Total

I ran the same command in a terminal and it worked without any problem. But when I create the command in Java and try to invoke the tool it does not work.

I think it's confused because of the totalSample parameter which includes a space. What I did next was to put "\ " space escape in paramater(String totalSample = "-A\"Total\\ samples\"=1000";), but it still refused to accept it. It gave the following error: Wrong parameter description : Dynamic parameter expected a value of the form a=b but got:"Total\

Then I run the same parameters with the ProcessBuilder object, like the following:

 String[] mcCommand = {"java", "-jar", MChecker.getAppPath(), "-t",
         "-a", "montecarlo",totalSample, "-m",
         mcModelRelPath + ":rml", "--format", "csv", "-r",
         customQueryRelPath + ":bltl" };

ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder(mcCommand);
Process process = pb.start();
process.waitFor();

But it still did not work and threw some custom exceptions.

I am currently out of options -- do you have any idea why this command does not work with Java, when it works just fine from the terminal interface?

BTW: I ran the same code on Windows it worked perfectly, but I have to run this code on Ubuntu OS.

Many Thanks

if you think it is the white space, have you tried calling trim() to eliminate it and make sure this isn't your issue? — GregH, Jul 21 '15 at 16:39
Can you change the binary in the jar to print out its arguments, say, one per line? Or can you write a little jar which does so and invoke it with the same command line? Maybe that would give an insight into the issue. — Andy Turner, Jul 21 '15 at 16:42
@peggy the space character should be there in the "Total samples", but when it is executed, the application takes Total part until space and ignores the rest. Somehow, I need to run the command as whole. — Memin, Jul 21 '15 at 17:30

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 21 '15 at 17:55

It was weird that, Java Process and ProcessBuilder classes could not pass the parameters properly. I don't know why, but since I was able to execute the command from terminal. I decide to call the terminal first and then execute the command. Therefore, I changed my command as following

String mcCommand[] = {
            "/bin/sh",
            "-c",
            "java -jar /opt/plasma/fr.inria.plasmalab.plasmalab-1.3.4.jar -t -a montecarlo "+totalSample+" -m models/translated/plasma/NaCl2.rml:rml --format csv -r models/translated/plasma/NaCl2.bltl:bltl" };

Despite it is platform dependant solution, currently it is ok for me.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 21 '15 at 20:24

0

Don't add extra quotes for Total samples when using ProcessBuilder:

ProcessBuilder pb = new ProcessBuilder("java", "-jar", MChecker.getAppPath(), "-t",
        "-a", "montecarlo", "-ATotal samples=1000",
        "-m", mcModelRelPath + ":rml", "--format", "csv",
        "-r", customQueryRelPath + ":bltl");
//...

answered Jul 21 '15 at 20:24

Roman

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Have you tried it? When you execute command `xxx -A"y z"=1` in the terminal in linux/unix, the quotes are removed by the shell, they are there only to preserve whitespace-containing argument, so it will run program `xxx` with one argument: `-Ay z=1`. It is actually equivalent to `xxx "-Ay z=1"` or `xxx -Ay\ z=1`. – Roman Jul 21 '15 at 23:34
Yes I tried without quotes, it does not work.. It seems the quotes are required by the external tool. When I invoke the tool through shell with the quotes the command works ( I have answered below), but if remove the quotes it does not even with extra shell parameter. But for now, through shell with quotes works for me. thank you. – Memin Jul 21 '15 at 23:42
It doesn't make sense. If I'm not demanding too much, could you show the error that you get when using my code? – Roman Jul 21 '15 at 23:56

Execute command from java which might include spaces

2 Answers2