EXECUTE Function

Runs the specified program.

Category: External File
Returned data type: Integer
Note: The returned value represents the existing status of the program. If an error occurs, such as the program not found, then -1 is returned.

Syntax

EXECUTE(<filename<option1, option2,…, <option N>>)

Required Arguments

filename

a string representing the file (or command) to be executed; this can be specified as a fixed string, field name, or expression

Optional Argument

option1…N

[optional] a string representing options that are passed to the file (command) that is going to be executed; this can be specified as a fixed string, field name, or expression

Details

The EXECUTE function invokes a file (or operating system command).

Note: Use single quotation marks for any parameter with embedded spaces. For example:

execute('cmd.exe','/C',

     '"C:\Program Files (x86)\DataFlux\DMStudio\studio24\bin\dmpexec.cmd"',

     '-j', '"C:\Repository24\batch_jobs\my data job.ddf"',

     '-l', '"C:\temp\log my data job.log"')

Note: The first parameter of the execute function should be the full path to the executable, script, or batch file. Do not quote or include any of the arguments. Pass the arguments in subsequent parameters to the execute function.

execute('path\to\executable.exe')

execute('executable.exe','argument')

Example

integer rc

 

// Windows example

rc = execute("cmd.exe", "/Q", "/C", "C:\mybatchjob.bat")

// /Q turns echo off

// /C executes the command specified by filename and then closes the prompt

 

// Unix example

rc = execute("/bin/sh", "-c", "chmod 777 file.txt")