Can I use the "start" command with spaces in the path?

Question

I have a path like this: Y:\xxx\dd sss\aaa\ccc

Y:\ is mapped to an FTP address. Now when I try to use start to open my folder I cannot. Command prompt makes mistake a and goes to Y:\xxx\dd folder!

I already tried to use %20 instead of a space, but that was also unsuccessful.

I am running this using a batch file from an Oracle form.

Not exactly sure what you're trying to do. Maybe C:\Windows\explorer.exe /e,"Y:\xxx\dd sss\aaa\ccc". — martineau, Jan 30 '11 at 13:39
You scan change to the folder and the drive at the same time at a cmd prompt with cd /D "Y:\xxx\dd sss\aaa\ccc". — martineau, Jan 30 '11 at 13:54

u1686_grawity · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-03T22:32:09.130

62

Use quotes like this:

start "" "Y:\foo bar\baz"

The start builtin command can be used to create new console windows, if you give it a console-based program (or nothing at all, in which case it starts the default cmd.exe shell).

If the first argument is quoted, start assumes it's the title for the new console window, so give it an empty title. The following argument will then be correctly interpreted as the command to run / file to open.

edited Jul 03 '11 at 22:32

answered Jan 30 '11 at 13:46

u1686_grawity

452,512

2

thanks for the note about the empty quote! Now I finally understand why sometimes a console window opens instead of an Explorer window. :) – Synetech Feb 20 '11 at 05:59

Pylsa · Answer 2 · 2012-02-24T10:24:58.060

8

Put it in quotation marks like so:

start "" "Y:\xxx\dd sss\aaa\ccc"

edited Feb 24 '12 at 10:24

answered Jan 30 '11 at 13:04

Pylsa

31,004

it's not working -- by run like this just a window of CMD just showing to me... :( – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:15
Remove the start. – martineau Jan 30 '11 at 13:29
Also try "Y:\\xxx\\dd sss\\aaa\\ccc". – martineau Jan 30 '11 at 13:32
Error: The file name ,directory name or volume label syntax is incorrect – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:38
@rima, does the thing you want actually work for any other path without spaces? – Arjan Jan 30 '11 at 13:39
@arjan : yes it will work for another path – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:40
And, @rima, any path also mapped to that FTP server? – Arjan Jan 30 '11 at 13:40
@Arjan : Emmm,no for other I use the address like \xxxx\dddd\ggg – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:42
@arjan: I guess DOS convert my path to s.th like this Y:\xxx\dd ~1 so first it go to folder dd not to "dd sss" – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:51
@martineau : Without start is impossible also \ not worked too – Amir Jan 30 '11 at 13:51
The executable name and the parameters need to be separated, do they not? – Oliver Salzburg Feb 24 '12 at 10:32

score 3 · Answer 3 · edited Sep 16 '22 at 20:10

3

You really only need to quote the actual space(s)

For instance:

start /wait C:\path\test" "spaced\setup.exe

edited Sep 16 '22 at 20:10

Toto

17,839

answered Sep 16 '22 at 17:53

Russ H

31

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score -4 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 30 '11 at 13:57

-4

Put the part with the spaces into quotation marks, eg.:

C:\path\"to something"\file

Your welcome.

answered Jan 30 '11 at 13:57

Zenir

21

Why is this downvoted? This is correct. – LBogaardt Jan 06 '21 at 15:13
In my system, trying to open a pdf file in this way, does nothing – Zac Jul 01 '22 at 08:32

Can I use the "start" command with spaces in the path?

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