Java runtime exec

Question

I am trying to convert various xls files into csv. when I execute the following command in the terminal it works fine

    libreoffice --headless --convert-to csv --outdir 
/Data/edennis/ /Data/edennis/2013-10/*.xls

but when I try with runtime exec it does not.

Research I've done:

According to this thread Java Runtime exec() behavior cannot execute system commands like echo, but libreoffice is not a system command, isn't it an executable program ?
Java runtime execThis thread recommends to use processBuilder, but not sure if this is what I would need to do in my case.
According to the Java Doc:

EXEC: Executes the specified string command in a separate process with the specified environment.

How do you call it? Perhaps you have to give full path to the executable file? — Plux, Nov 25 '13 at 14:41
@piet.t no error, it doesnt break it runs through but it doesnt execute.. — Eddie Martinez, Nov 25 '13 at 14:43

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 25 '13 at 14:41

3

First, there is no reason why Runtime.exec should not be able to run /bin/echo (if available).

Second, yes, use ProcessBuilder.

Third, your problems stem from using shell syntax for file patterns like *.xls. Runtime.exec calls the program you specify, not a shell that would do filename expansion. If you need to do filename expansion, run a shell like:

"sh -c libreoffice --blabla *.xls"

answered Nov 25 '13 at 14:41

Ingo

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it worked thanks! I had to use a String array but otherwise worked fine. – Eddie Martinez Nov 25 '13 at 14:55

Java runtime exec

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