How to execute an MSDOS cmd in perl?

[whn]

I worte a piece of perl code to run an MSDOS cmd:

my $pp1 = `which powermt`;
chomp($pp1);
my $ret1 = &issue_cmd($pp1, '1st try');

my $pp2 = $pp1;
$pp2 =~ s/\s+/\*/g;
my $ret2 = &issue_cmd($pp2, '2nd try');

my $pp3 = $pp2;
$pp3 =~ s/\\/\//g;
my $ret3 = &issue_cmd($pp3, '3rd try');

my $pp4 = $pp2;
$pp4 =~ s/\\/\/\\/g;
my $ret4 = &issue_cmd($pp4, '4th try');

my $pp5 = $pp2;
$pp5 =~ s/\\/\\\//g;
my $ret5 = &issue_cmd($pp5, '5th try');

sub issue_cmd {
	my $cmd = $_[0];
	my $flag = $_[1];
	print "=============In issue_cmd(), $flag==================\n";
	my $ret = `$cmd 2>&1`;
	print "\$cmd = $cmd\n";
	print "$ret";
	print "====================================================\n\n";
	return $ret;
}

The output:
=========

=============In issue_cmd(), 1st try==================
syntax error: got (, expecting Newline
$cmd = C:\Program Files (x86)\EMC\PowerPath\powermt.exe
====================================================

=============In issue_cmd(), 2nd try==================
$cmd = C:\Program*Files*(x86)\EMC\PowerPath\powermt.exe
C:Program*Files*(x86)EMCPowerPathpowermt.exe: not found
====================================================

=============In issue_cmd(), 3rd try==================
$cmd = C:/Program*Files*(x86)/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe
C:/Program*Files*(x86)/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe: not found
====================================================

=============In issue_cmd(), 4th try==================
$cmd = C:/\Program*Files*(x86)/\EMC/\PowerPath/\powermt.exe
C:/Program*Files*(x86)/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe: not found
====================================================

=============In issue_cmd(), 5th try==================
$cmd = C:\/Program*Files*(x86)\/EMC\/PowerPath\/powermt.exe
C:/Program*Files*(x86)/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe: not found
====================================================

The above code is run on a windows server which has MKStool kit installed and
the partial system info is listed below:

OS Name:            Microsoft(R) Windows(R) Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition
OS Version:         5.2.3790 Service Pack 2 Build 3790
OS Manufacturer:    Microsoft Corporation
OS Configuration:   Standalone Server
OS Build Type:      Multiprocessor Free
System Type:        x64-based PC

Could someone please tell me what the correct implementation is?

Many thanks.

 

[KevinADC]

try this for now:

if ( chdir('C:/Program Files (x86)/EMC/PowerPath') ) {
   print "We are in the directory\n";
   print qx{dir '.'};
}
else {
   print "Failed : $!\n";
}

report back.


------------------------------------------
- Kevin, perl coder unexceptional!

 

[whn]

Thank you, Kevin and sorry not getting back to you earlier.

The output of your code is:

We are in the directory
dir: not found

============================

However, I do have a few different ways to run a MSDOS cmd in perl. More to follow.

 

[whn]

Below is a piece of my demo code.

use File::Basename;
use Cwd;

# 1st
# The command 'which' only works when
# 1) an MKStool kit or something similar is installed;
# 2) $cmd is set in PATH env
my $cmd = "powermt";
my $origDir = cwd;
my $ret = &_getResultsOnWin($cmd, $origDir);

# 2nd 
# The extension 'exe' has to be included!!
$cmd = "$ENV{HOMEDRIVE}/Program Files (x86)/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe";
if(-x $cmd) {
	$cmd = "$ENV{HOMEDRIVE}/Program*x86*/EMC/PowerPath/powermt.exe";
	$ret = &issue_cmd($cmd, '2nd try');
}

# 3rd
# The extension 'exe' does not have to be included!!
# And it does not require an MKStool kit or something similar
$cmd = "\"$ENV{HOMEDRIVE}\\Program Files (x86)\\EMC\\PowerPath\\powermt\"";
$ret = &issue_cmd($cmd, '3rd try');

exit;

sub _getResultsOnWin {
	my ($cmd, $origDir) = @_;
	my $pp = `which $cmd`; 
	print "\$pp = $pp\n";
	# $pp == C:\Program Files (x86)\EMC\PowerPath\powermt.exe
	chomp($pp);
	my $ppPath = dirname($pp);
	chdir($ppPath);
	my $ret = &issue_cmd($cmd, '1st try');
	chdir($origDir);
	return $ret;
}

sub issue_cmd {
	my $cmd = $_[0];
	my $flag = $_[1];
	my $ret = `$cmd 2>&1`;
	print "=================== Demo Only $flag ===========================\n";
	print "$ret";
	print "======================= End of Demo =============================\n\n";
	return $ret;
}

I like the first way better. Mike, do you have any comments/suggestions? Thank you again, Mike.

 

[KevinADC]

The output of your code is:

We are in the directory
dir: not found

That seems very strange. When you chdir into a directory it should be accessible with the . character.

------------------------------------------
- Kevin, perl coder unexceptional!