Executing cmd commands in Windows from PHP Issue

Question

Is it possible to execute cmd commands in Windows OS with PHP exec() function?

I tried this:

<?php

try {

    echo exec(
    'O:\test\pdftk.exe O:\test\outputs\OPP\out.pdf O:\test\outputs\OPP\out2.pdf cat output O:\test\123.pdf'
    );

} catch (Exception $e) {
    echo $e->getMessage();
}

Basically, I'm trying to merge two pdf files with the pdftk program. If I just write the same exact command to the cmd by hand, it works and the O:\test\123.pdf file is created. But when I execute the above PHP file, nothing happens (blank page, the file is not created).

Answer 1

Try escaping the directory separator:

exec("O:\\test\\pdftk.exe O:\\test\\outputs\\OPP\\out.pdf O:\\test\\outputs\\OPP\\out2.pdf cat output O:\\test\\123.pdf");

Or even better, use single quotes instead:

exec('O:\test\pdftk.exe O:\test\outputs\OPP\out.pdf O:\test\outputs\OPP\out2.pdf cat output O:\test\123.pdf');

Answer 2

Can your PHP user access cmd.exe? You might find the tools at Microsoft's Sysinternals very useful; particularly the process monitor.

Answer 3

try Executing using the Admin Privileges for command prompt