Running Command Line Arguments

I'm trying to run a command line argument through VB.NET using the Shell() command.

I'm trying to use this piece of code:

FOR /R %I in (*.pdf) DO @pdf2swf.exe "%~fI" -o "%~dpI%~nI.swf" -f -T 9
-t -G

Using this:

Shell("FOR /R %I in (*.pdf) DO @pdf2swf.exe "%~fI" -o "%~dpI%~nI.swf" -f -T 9
-t -G ")

However, the interpreter is giving me this error:

Character is not valid. (BC30037)

For the %~ part.

I also tried created a string and passing the argument to the Shell() command by using Shell(StringName) but I still get the same error in the string.

开发者_高级运维

How could I fix this issue?

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This is not proper use of the Shell Method:

Public Shared Function Shell (PathName As String, [...]) As Integer

Parameters

PathName
Type: System.String
Required. String. Name of the program to execute, together with any required arguments and command-line switches. PathName can also include the drive and the directory path or folder.

The first parameter is supposed to be the name of a program to execute. FOR is not a program, it's a built-in feature of the cmd.exe command line interpreter.

As far as I can see, you have the following options:

Option 1: Explicitly call cmd.exe and pass the string that you want to execute with the /c parameter:

Shell("cmd.exe /c for /R %I ...")

Don't for get to duplicate quotation marks (") to escape them.

Option 2: Create a batch file and call the batch file using Shell.

Option 3: Don't use FOR to find the files you need, but use the methods of the System.IO namespace, e.g. Directory.EnumerateFiles, instead.

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Escape your internal quote marks like this.

Shell("FOR /R %I in (*.pdf) DO @pdf2swf.exe ""%~fI"" -o ""%~dpI%~nI.swf"" -f -T 9 -t -G ")

As I recall, in VB.Net you escape double quote marks by doubling them.

EDIT:

It might help if you do the iteration outside of the Shell. (Certainly to debug)

Dim sourceFolder As String = "c:\Your call"
Dim sourceFiles As String[] = Directory.GetFiles(sourceFolder, "*.pdf")

ForEach file As String In sourceFiles
    Dim justName As String = Path.GetFileNameWithoutExtension(file)
    Dim shellCall As String = _
        String.Format("pdf2swf.exe ""{0}"" -o ""{1}.swf"" -f -T 9 -t -G", _
                         file, justName)
    Shell(shellCall)
EndFor

You could also cosider using System.Diagnostics.Process instead of Shell

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Try escaping the quotes (2 quote marks - "" - in VB.NET, IIRC):

Shell("FOR /R %I in (*.pdf) DO @pdf2swf.exe ""%~fI"" -o ""%~dpI%~nI.swf"" -f -T 9 -t -G ")

If pdf2swf.exe is not in the same folder your program's executable is running from, that could be a reason you're getting the error.

Also, you'll have the same issue with the *.pdf files if they are in a different folder other than where your executable is. You can specify the drive and path to search:

Shell ("FOR /R C:\SomeFolder %I in (*.pdf) DO @pdf2swf.exe ""%~fI"" -o ""%~dpI%~nI.swf"" -f -T 9 -t -G ")