Call batch script in new command / DOS window

[Olaf]

From a perl script, how do I call a batch or command file that opens in a new Command / DOS window?

system("C:\\Foo\\DigThis.bat);

opens the batch file, but in the existing screen.

[BrowserUk]

system( "start C:\\Foo\\DigThis.bat" );

Type start /? at a command prompt for more info

[ikegami]

That won't wait for the child to complete like system normally does, and it won't work if the path contains quotes.

If the OP wants to wait for the child to finish, I've already presented the solution.

system("start /wait \"c:\program files\prog\prog\"");

If the OP doesn't want to wait for the child to finish and you need to use quotes, you need to specify any other argumennt in order to avoid an ambiguity in start's parameter parsing.

system("start \"\" \"c:\program files\prog\prog\"");

 -or-

system("start /normal \"c:\program files\prog\prog\"");

[BrowserUk]

I've already presented the solution

'scuse me for being 1 minute behind you in posting.

If the OP doesn't want to wait for the child to finish

Since he didn't specify, I pointed him at the documentation.

and you need to use quotes,

Nope! This works:

c:\test>type DigThis.bat
@echo I'm diggin' it

c:\test>p1
[0] Perl> system "start c:\\test\\DigThis.bat";;

But this doesn't!

[0] Perl> system("start \"\" \"c:\test\DigThis.bat\"");

[ikegami]

system("start /wait C:\\Foo\\DigThis.bat");