Why this doesn't work? (exec)

qest

$cmd = '"C:\Program Files\Foobar\foobar2000.exe" "E:\1.flac"';
exec($cmd);

Windows 2000 + apache + php 5
(configured apache service as admin)

Thanks to any helpers.

bpat1434

Please, don't ask "why doesn't it work?". Read up on the function you're using, then ask questions.

Ask question, find answer via google or php.net:

exec
(PHP 3, PHP 4 , PHP 5)
exec -- Execute an external program
Description
string exec ( string command [, array &output [, int &return_var]] )

exec() executes the given command, however it does not output anything. It simply returns the last line from the result of the command. If you need to execute a command and have all the data from the command passed directly back without any interference, use the passthru() function.

If the output argument is present, then the specified array will be filled with every line of output from the command. Line endings, such as \n, are not included in this array. Note that if the array already contains some elements, exec() will append to the end of the array. If you do not want the function to append elements, call unset() on the array before passing it to exec().

If the return_var argument is present along with the output argument, then the return status of the executed command will be written to this variable.

~Brett

qest

Okay... used one of the suggested ways...

chdir($this->path);
pclose(popen("start \"bla\" \"" . $this->exe . "\" " . escapeshellarg($file), "r"));

However, this doesn't seem to work when the script is called from the command line (from a batch file)...

"C:\path\to\php.exe" "C:\path\to\script.php"

The script works perfectly except for the program execution portion.

I'm wondering if this is permission based? and if there is a way to fix/work around this?

Thanks.

Nikolas

It is permission based, you should check the permissions of user that runs the apache proccess.
I can't help you further as I don't know musch of Windows OS

qest

I don't think so. Because it works if it's runned by apache (who's service is runned as administrator). It doesn't work if it's runned by php.exe (which isn't a service, so I dunno what to do).

bpat1434

The service might be running by Guest on the Windows machine. Or IGUEST (for internet guest). Check the permissions. THat's probably the issue.

~Brett

qest

Originally posted by bpat1434
The service might be running by Guest on the Windows machine. Or IGUEST (for internet guest). Check the permissions. THat's probably the issue.

~Brett

I appreciate the help, bpat, but I'm afraid I don't completely understand. I know that with windows xp you can see who a task is being runned by in the task manager. 2000 does not seem to have this feature. Moreover, I'm not sure how I would go about making it run as an administrator if that is the problem.

I appreciate you help.
Qest

bpat1434

Windows 2000 does have the feature. You have to hit: ctrl+alt+delete and select "Task Manager" and then under Processes you'll see what processes are running, who is running them, what memory it takes, CPU usage, and where it's running from.

~Brett

qest

I am aware of the task manager. What I was trying to get across is that Windows 2000 does not have User Name as a possible column.

qest

Anyone?

qest

Bump