C# run process with multiple spaces in arguments

Question

I'm trying to start a process which contains multiple spaces within the arguments. The arguments that are passed are dynamically built. For example:

// These three strings will be built dynamically
string consolePath = "C:\\My Path\\nunit3-console.exe"
string dll = "C:\\My Path\\My.Test.dll"
string where = "--where \"test == My.Test.Example \""

string cmdText = $" \"{consolePath }\" \"{dll}\" {where}";
//cmdText = "\"C:\\My Path\\nunit3-console.exe\" \"C:\\My Path\\My.Test.dll\" --where \"test == My.Test.Example \""

var processInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe", $"/c {cmdText}");
processInfo.CreateNoWindow = false;
Process process = Process.Start(processInfo);
process.WaitForExit();
process.Close();

This does not work as any text beyond the first space will be ignored. I will get a message such as 'C:\My' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

I tried adding parentheses around the arguments, as noted here, but it didn't work. What is the correct way to do this?

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 29 '18 at 14:10

4

You probably have to add a further double-quote around anything that may include spaces within one single argument. Usually a space means the end of an argument. So to preserve this, you´d have to put the string into double-quotes.

So consolePath should actually be this:

var consolePath = "\"C:\\My Path....exe\"";

answered Jan 29 '18 at 14:10

MakePeaceGreatAgain

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I changed it to `var processInfo = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe", $"/c \"{cmdText}\"");` and it works perfectly. Thank you for clarifying. – usr4896260 Jan 29 '18 at 14:16

Alex · Answer 2 · 2018-01-29T15:12:29.543

1

In addition to previous answer, @ could be used to avoid \\ like this:

@"""C:\My Path\nunit3-console.exe"""

or:

"\"" + @"C:\My Path\nunit3-console.exe" + "\""

More about @ here: What's the @ in front of a string in C#?

edited Jan 29 '18 at 15:12

answered Jan 29 '18 at 14:21

Alex

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@HimBromBeere, should it be like this: `"\"" + @"C:\My Path\" + "\"";` ? – Alex Jan 29 '18 at 14:52
1

Either this or `@"""C:\My Path\nunit3-console.exe"""`. – MakePeaceGreatAgain Jan 29 '18 at 14:55
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Thanks, @HimBromBeere. Updated. – Alex Jan 29 '18 at 15:02

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 12 '20 at 19:21

0

After searching two days for working string I finally found it.

Just wrap string like this:

string Arguments = "/c ""path" --argument "";

string Arguments = "/c \""path" --argument \"";

Notice bold quotes from first string.

answered Aug 12 '20 at 19:21

TJacken

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C# run process with multiple spaces in arguments

3 Answers3