how to run a batch file from java?

Question

Hi experts, I am trying run a batch file from my java codes, but unfortunately I could not run it properly. Actually the batch file is running but only the first line of the batch file is running, so please give solution to it, here are the codes and the batch file.

 class bata
{
public static void main(String [] args)
{
try
{
 Runtime.getRuntime().exec("start_james.bat");


  }
  catch(Exception e) {}
}
}

and the batch file is

cd\
c:
cd C:\Tomcat 5.5\webapps\mail_testing\james-2.3.2\bin
run.bat

start

Answer 1

What do you expect cd: to do? That doesn't look right to me...

If your batch file is only going to run another batch file, why not run that target batch file to start with? If you're worried about the initial working directory, use the overload which takes a File argument to say which directory to use. For example:

File dir = new File("C:\\Tomcat 5.5\\webapps\\mail_testing\\james-2.3.2\\bin");
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("start_james.bat", null, dir);

Answer 2

Isn't there something in java, whereby you can invoke the batch file directly with full path?

I mean, why do you need to change directories?
Also, what is the use of cd:? It is not a valid command in DOS, unless you are using *nix.

Answer 3

I think he wants to change to a directory and then run the batch file. Can you try this ?

cd /d C:\Tomcat 5.5\webapps\mail_testing\james-2.3.2\bin
run.bat

start

Answer 4

Was "cd:" supposed to be a label you can jump to using the GOTO command? However labels are declared using ":labelname". This should be the reason why your batch execution stops after the first line.

Answer 5

If all the other answers (with valid batch file) didn't work try executing cmd.exe directly like this:

File dir = new File("D:\\tools\\bin");
Runtime.getRuntime().exec("c:\\windows\\system32\\cmd.exe /c start_james.bat", null, dir);

You might also use the %SystemRoot% environment variable to get the absolute path to cmd.exe.