Batch File - START %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe doesn'

[kumarkumar]

I am trying to run a simple batch file where I would use it to run another exe.

@ECHO OFF
START %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe

This doesn't work. I get the error "Windows cannot find "C:\Documents'. Make sure you types the name correctly........"

I guess this is because there are spaces in "Documents and Settings".

I tried

@ECHO OFF
START "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe"

This doesn't work either. It opens command prompt and stays as it is.

I tried

@ECHO OFF
START "%USERPROFILE%"\Desktop\some.exe

This doesn't work either. It opens command prompt and stays as it is.

Wherever there is space in the path to exe, START command doesn't work (ex. %PROGRAMFILES%, %CD%, %TEMP%, etc)

What could be wrong?

[MrJinje]

I think Jaclaz got this one.

Edited January 25, 2010 by MrJinje

[jaclaz]

START often needs a "title" to work:

http://ss64.com/nt/start.html

If there is a space in the path to the command, it must be enclosed in double quotes.

Check if userprofile is defined

I.E::

SET USERPROFILE
PAUSE
START "Window Title" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe"

jaclaz

[kumarkumar]

Thanks jaclaz.

Adding "title" did the trick.

I can use just one line in the batch file for my job (to make things more simpler)

START "" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe"

The following combinations of double quotes also work

START "" "%USERPROFILE%"\Desktop\some.exe

START "" "%USERPROFILE%"\Desktop\some.exe"

START "" "%USERPROFILE%""\Desktop\some.exe"

@MrJinje

I wanted to use START command and not just

"%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe"

(which would also run some.exe), because I wanted the cmd window to close automatically after it had opened some.exe, which is not possible without START command.

Edited January 25, 2010 by kumarkumar

[jaclaz]

The following combinations of double quotes also work

No matter if they work or not, DO NOT use them , use the first one: one single set of double quotes wrapping around the WHOLE path\exe.

SYNTAX is there to be respected, not "invented", the first "wrong" example works only because you do not have a space in \Desktop\some.exe and the second (the one with the odd double quote) only works because of a "parsing defect" of the command interpreter, don't trust it.

Third is pointless, it only adds to extra unneeded characters.

jaclaz

Edited January 25, 2010 by jaclaz

[kumarkumar]

START often needs a "title" to work:

http://ss64.com/nt/start.html

If there is a space in the path to the command, it must be enclosed in double quotes.

Check if userprofile is defined

I.E::

SET USERPROFILE
PAUSE
START "Window Title" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe"

jaclaz

Just a small correction

If I were to follow the START syntax correctly shouldn't it be

@ECHO OFF
START "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" some.exe /h

(with a space between the path and exe)

[jaclaz]

Just a small correction

If I were to follow the START syntax correctly shouldn't it be

@ECHO OFF
START "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" some.exe /h

(with a space between the path and exe)

NO.

That line would give a title of "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" to the window.

The "/h" is a paremeter to "some.exe".

Read again the given link.

command : The command, batch file or executable program to run

command means the name of executable, including a fully qualified path to it UNLESS:

1. the program is in the SAME directory as the running batch
   
2. the program is anywhere in the PATH
   

A GENERAL rule about command line and batch parsing is that the SPACE is a separator, thus a full path containing spaces MUST be enclosed in double quotes.

A workaround is using 8.3 compliant names, but this can generate "colliding" paths. (hint: use DIR /X)

Don't be tricked by the optional [/Dpath] option that sets the "working directory", not the target to be executed.

jaclaz

[kumarkumar]

My bad a typo

The correct syntax should have been (following the suggestions in http://ss64.com/nt/start.html)

@ECHO OFF
START "Some Title" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop" some.exe /h

(where /h is the parameter to some.exe)

Now if you look at any example in that website you would notice a space after the "path to the exe" and the "exe"

START "My Login Script" /Min Login.cmd
START "" /wait MySlowProgram.exe

Edited January 27, 2010 by kumarkumar

[Yzöwl]

No it shouldn't, here are all of the examples on that page:

START "My Login Script" /Min Login.cmd

START "" /wait MySlowProgram.exe

START \\print_server\printer_name

START /Dc:\Documents\ /MAX notepad.exe

start /wait /b First.exe

start /wait /b Second.exe

start /wait /b Third.exe

Nowhere does a path terminate then include a space before the name of the executable file. It also does not in the example you've provided.

Since some.exe is located at the path %USERPROFILE%\Desktop you'd use the following:

@START "Some Title" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe" /h

[jaclaz]

Since some.exe is located at the path %USERPROFILE%\Desktop you'd use the following:

@START "Some Title" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\some.exe" /h

...should kumarkumar be willing to follow the advice he asked for.....

jaclaz

Edited January 27, 2010 by jaclaz