Java - Run Excel using runtime.getRuntime().exec

Question

try {
    Runtime.getRuntime().exec("excel C:\\file.xls");
} catch (IOException ex) {
    System.out.println(ex);
}

Doesn't work. I have to put the full path of excel.exe in order to work. How can I make it generic (For any Excel Folders/Versions)? When I run the same line from OS with Windows Run (Start --> Run) it works. Is there a code in Java to simulate Windows' Run command?

Answer 1

Call the Windows "start.exe" command instead of Excel directly. Start.exe appears to search paths, etc. However, it still may not find it if it's not in the path.

Answer 2

You might try using "cmd" instead of "excel", and then pass in an array of params.

For easier debugging, you might also try using ProcessBuilder instead. In my experience it's much nicer to work with: http://download.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/lang/ProcessBuilder.html

Answer 3

Why don't you try with the Desktop class (api doc here) introduced in JDK6 that has the method

public void open(File file) throws IOException

which is documented as what you want to do:

Launches the associated application to open the file. If the specified file is a directory, the file manager of the current platform is launched to open it.

Of course this assumes that .xls extension is mapped by OS to Excel. Then you can go with

Desktop.getDesktop().open(new File("c:\\file.xls"));