How to call a program that contains space in filename?

Question

I'm tried to run a command line something like this: start /max C:\Program files\foo\ba.exe -somearguments.

But I have a problem, the cmd returns an error message something like The system cannot found the C:\Program file and if I put the C:\Program files\foo\ba.exe around quotes, it simply run a new window cmd in MAX mode and don't run the program.

How to fix this?

score 19 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 05 '12 at 16:26

19

All filenames and paths which contain spaces must be quoted.

Next, regarding your question, how about stating the path like:

start /max /d"C:\Program files\foo\" ba.exe -somearguments

answered Jun 05 '12 at 16:26

Silviu

684

3

This answer is only a partial solution: It will work if there are spaces in the path but it will not work if there are spaces in the filename. Calling ''start "b a.exe" fails.'' – Georg W. Sep 18 '18 at 13:19

Diogo · Answer 2 · 2012-06-05T16:32:58.343

18

The error happened because the system interpreted your command as the file C:\Program and file as an argument of your command. Obviously it doesn't find the file Program and returned this error.

To fix it, just include "" on the path between the words with the space character or on entire path:

start /max C:\"Program files"\foo\ba.exe -somearguments

or

start /max "C:\Program files\foo\ba.exe" -somearguments

edited Jun 05 '12 at 16:32

answered Jun 05 '12 at 16:24

Diogo

30,480

There needs to be a "" before program path in the second example; see http://superuser.com/a/239572/1686 on why. – u1686_grawity Jun 05 '12 at 17:13
You say I must include it? Ive just tested here now and it worked without "" before... – Diogo Jun 05 '12 at 17:16
It might have changed, then, but cmd.exe on Windows XP would require it. – u1686_grawity Jun 05 '12 at 17:43
I've just tried it, and Windows 7 definitely doesn't accept the second example, although the first one works. – Harry Johnston Jun 06 '12 at 02:16
It autocompleted automatically here if start to digit c:Prorg and press TAB. – Diogo Jun 06 '12 at 02:33
2

And kudos to the person at MicroSoft that decided to use a space in the folder name! – Be Kind To New Users Oct 02 '16 at 22:41
So unintuitive... but worked for me!! – Michael Bray Feb 17 '19 at 20:01

score 6 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 05 '12 at 16:31

6

Although wrapping the path in quotes is the easiest and clearest to read, you can also use the old DOS short names (since DOS followed 8.3 naming, file names longer than 8 characters were truncated with ~1) for files. These names do not have spaces. You can see the short names for files with the DIR /X command.

answered Jun 05 '12 at 16:31

sachleen

226

I needed a command line to launch conemu from atom text editor inside windows 10. This was the only method that would work for me in that case. – Thom Ives Jan 01 '20 at 01:09

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered May 04 '18 at 12:48

3

In Win10 you can try this:

start /max C:\Program%20files\foo\ba.exe -somearguments

answered May 04 '18 at 12:48

Ivan M

31

1

Welcome to Super User! Can you explain what you are suggesting? :) – bertieb May 04 '18 at 13:10

How to call a program that contains space in filename?

4 Answers4