Powershell CMD.exe and spaces in path

Question

I am running into a problem executing a command using cmd.exe in PowerShell. The problem is the path to the command has spaces in it. Seems to be a general problem with PowerShell. Below is an extract:

$base_dir = resolve-path ..\  # this path has spaces in it 
$msdeploy = $base_dir\tools\msdeploy\msdeploy.exe

cmd.exe /c $("""$msdeploy"" -verb:sync -source:....")

I need to have the path to msdeploy resolve through variables as the script is used in a continuous integration process.

The command wont execute due to the spaces. I have tried to wrap the command in "" (quotes) but still no luck. How do I format the $msdeploy variable in this instance?

score 2 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 07 '12 at 16:40

2

Back-ticking "" around the command should make it work:

cmd.exe /c "`"$msdeploy`" -verb:sync -source:..."

edited Aug 07 '12 at 16:40

Goyuix

23,614
14
84
128

answered Aug 07 '12 at 13:19

Torbjörn Bergstedt

3,359
2
21
30

That _is_ strange. I tried myself setting it up just like you, with the difference that `$msdeploy` was set up with quotes: `$msdeploy = "$base_dir\..."` (to ensure it's a string, just old habit). And I could call `cmd.exe /c "`"$msdeploy`" -help -verb"` without problems. – Torbjörn Bergstedt Aug 08 '12 at 07:05

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

2

Try calling everything with the $() like this:

$base_dir = resolve-path ..\  # this path has spaces in it 
$msdeploy = $($base_dir)\tools\msdeploy\msdeploy.exe

cmd.exe /c $("$($msdeploy) -verb:sync -source:....")

Edit: I moved the whole command into the $msdeploy variable, and called the $msdeploy by escaping the quotes. I found this link that had a similar problem, so I adjusted your code to match what worked there.

$base_dir = resolve-path ..\
$msdeploy = $("`"" + $base_dir.Path + "\tools\msdeploy\msdeploy.exe`" -verb:sync -source:....")

cmd.exe /c "`"$msdeploy`""

edited May 23 '17 at 12:06

Community

1
1

answered Aug 07 '12 at 14:57

Nick

4,302
2
24
38

unfortunately doesn't work. the single ' act as a literal and does not let the $($msdeploy) variable unpack – Samuel Goldenbaum Aug 07 '12 at 16:16
Try changing the $msdeploy to what I have up there. Also, change the single `'` to `"` – Nick Aug 07 '12 at 16:45
1

Bro, saved me hours! Much appreciated. – Samuel Goldenbaum Aug 08 '12 at 07:13
Hey @Nick have you used Psake at all? – Samuel Goldenbaum Aug 08 '12 at 07:21
Nope, sorry. I am still new to PowerShell, I just happened to have done this exact same thing in my first script, so it was fresh in my head when I read your question. – Nick Aug 08 '12 at 16:51

Powershell CMD.exe and spaces in path

2 Answers2

Linked