Quotes or no quotes while shelling?

[JFoushee]

Is there some OS option that determines use/non-use of quotes when shelling out?

I have a job class that includes two parameters Shell_Command (the path of .exe) and Shell_Parameters...

Public Class clsJob

    Public Sub sub_Run_Job_Now()

        Dim strCommand As String = RTrim("""" & Me.Shell_Command & """ " & Me.Shell_Parameters)

        Try
            sub_Kick_Off_Job(strCommand)
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New Exception("Command `" & strCommand & "` returned '" & ex.Message & "'")
        End Try

        ' add history information...

    End Sub

    Private Sub sub_Kick_Off_Job(ByVal strCommand As String)

        Try
            Shell(strCommand, AppWinStyle.NormalFocus, False, 5000)
        Catch ex As Exception
            Throw New Exception(Err.Description)
        End Try

    End Sub

End Class

On my machine, the following scenario works:
Shell_Command = C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe
Shell_Parameters = user32.dll,LockWorkStation

but not this:
Shell_Command = "C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe" (with quotes)
Shell_Parameters = user32.dll,LockWorkStation
(Error: Command `""C:\Windows\system32\rundll32.exe"" user32.dll,LockWorkStation` returned 'File not found.')

On another machine, the opposite is true.

What might cause this behavior?
(Unfortunately, VB.NET is not available on the other machine to debug.)

 

[RonRepp]

Search this forum for System.Diagnostic.Process.

Seems to work better.

I hope this helps.

Ron Repp

If gray hair is a sign of wisdom, then I'm a genius.

My newest novel: Wooden Warriors

http://www.repproductions.net