c# execute DOS command and store the results

Question

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In a command prompt I can type "ipconfig" and a list of internet information will appears. I want to do this in a C# console program. Basically, I want to run the C# program and I want to read and store everything that is given in "c:\ipconfig".

"ipconfig" is a String in which that I can set to be anything and "c:\" is the folder directory.

Is it possible to do that in C#? Any information is appreciated.

FYI: This example may be silly but I am working on a problem that is very similar to this and apparently it is the only way to do it. I do not have any API for it.

Edit:

Since everyone is confused of the questions, here is it in more details:

All I do in command prompt is navigate to a specific directly where I installed my application and issuing a commnad and a list of info will show up. I want to capture this info. And, I want to do this all in C# because I then want to process that info into other applications that I made.

Posted 7-Oct-14 7:27am

Jaxam

Updated 7-Oct-14 10:27am

v2

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Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 13:41pm

As far as i know ipconfig gets an information about devices used to connect to internet. .NET framework provides methods to list all devices and its details.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 14:50pm

Probably, but we don't know what exactly OP wants to get; the question says "a list if internet information", so, using ipconfig could make sense. Please see the solutions 1-3.

If you have the solution based entirely on .NET FCL, it would be useful if you post it, too.

—SA

Jaxam 7-Oct-14 14:15pm

HiI used ipconfig as an example but the work i am doing is not ipconfig. It is using the same idea in command prompt, however, as i stated in the FYI. There is not API for what I am doing as well.

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 14:49pm

Please, use 'Reply' button to post comment as an 'answer' to the other comment.
In other way, the commentator will never see your comment ;)

BillWoodruff 7-Oct-14 14:16pm

See this for alternative ways using .NET to get the same information ipconfig provides:

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15184495/parsing-windows-ipconfig-all-output

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 14:39pm

Where did you dig out such beast, "DOS command"? Modern platforms got rid of DOS long time ago.
—SA

PIEBALDconsult 7-Oct-14 14:52pm

If it looks like DOS and quacks like a DOS then it must be a DOS.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:25pm

I hope you still know what I mean. We are not in "duck typing" system here.
—SA

Jaxam 7-Oct-14 16:25pm

Sorry if I confused everyone. The problem is more simpler than what you might think. I am just not knowing the way to do it in c#:

So, here is what I am doing. All I do in command prompt is navigate to a specific directly where I installed my application and issuing a commnad and a list of info will show up. I want to capture this info. And, I want to do this all in C# because I then want to process that info into other applications that I made.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:30pm

No, no, that's all find, no need to apologize. The question makes sense, and I think all the answers 1-4 will give you all detail you need for the solution.
Please consider accepting them formally (green "Accept" button). In all cases, your follow-up questions will be welcome.
—SA

Jaxam 7-Oct-14 17:07pm

I have this code:

ProcessStartInfo process = new ProcessStartInfo();
process.FileName = @"%windir%\system32\cmd.exe";
process.UseShellExecute = false;
process.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
process.Arguments = "ipconfig";
Process p = Process.Start(process);
string strOutput = p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
p.WaitForExit();
Console.WriteLine(strOutput);

but it give me error at the process.start(process)

what is the problem?

Venkatesh Mookkan 8-Oct-14 0:36am

ipconfig is a program. Change your code to have Filename as "ipconfig" and no arguments.

4 solutions

Solution 4

Why to torture yourself by sending some command to the 'command prompt'?
Isn't better to use .net classes, objects?

Please, see:
Network Programming in the .NET Framework[^]
NetworkInterface Class[^]

Quite often used alternative is WMI[^], which provides functionality to get information about any devices connected to the computer.
More: WMI Classes[^]

Posted 7-Oct-14 9:00am

Maciej Los

Updated 7-Oct-14 9:06am

v2

Comments

[no name] 7-Oct-14 15:11pm

+5. That is the good way. Regards, Bruno

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 15:12pm

Thank you, Bruno ;)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:27pm

You did it. Good alternative approach, a 5.
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 16:28pm

Thank you, Sergey ;)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:31pm

One big note: ~~nobody talked~~ about "command prompt" (CMD.EXE). Actually, using CMD.EXE is a big mistakes of many. We are talking about starting the process using command line. Big difference. CMD.EXE is not used and should not be used.

[EDIT]

Sorry. Now I see where it comes from: Bruno Sprecher meant using CMD.EXE, but I did not. Please compare out answers and see the difference. Using CMD.EXE is a big mistake.

—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 16:41pm

OK, now i see the difference. Re-voted (but unfortunately it changes nothing).

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:44pm

No matter... just thank you.
—SA

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Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07T08:45:00

Solution 3

This application should not be in C:. Do you know that a system does not even have to have drive C?!
And this is not a "DOS command". In modern OS, there is no such thing.

Simply use System.Diagnostics.Process.Start with redirection of StandardOutput:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0w4h05yb(v=vs.110).aspx[^],
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.process.standardoutput%28v=vs.110%29.aspx[^] (code sample can be found here),
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.diagnostics.processstartinfo(v=vs.110).aspx[^].

—SA

Posted 7-Oct-14 8:45am

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Comments

[no name] 7-Oct-14 14:56pm

Ok, my 5. But to be honest I expected to read how to get the Information without using such an ugly method :). Anyway your Explanation of using Process is much more complete.
Regards, Bruno

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 14:58pm

Thank you, Bruno.
Agree. This just answers the question, not giving better alternatives. But, in this case, it might be not that bad.
Maybe Maciej (please see his comment to the question) will do the job. :-)
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 15:04pm

Please, see my answer ;)
BTW: voted 4, because i'm almost sure that there exists better way ;)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:28pm

Maybe; "better" is somewhat "philosophical here". I appreciate that you posted your alternative answer.
See also my comments about not using CMD.EXE. Perhaps you misread my answer a bit.
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 16:37pm

I'm philosophical person, if i can say this way ;)
The book written by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Clein: "Plato and a Platypus Walk into the Bar" is my personal best!. Polish version, of course. I've got an audiobook readed by the best polish actor (comedian).
I'm looking for english version of book. Unfortunately, inaccessible in Poland ;(

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:43pm

Sorry, I'm unfamiliar with this book. All philosophy of a Polish author I read a lot was after pan Stanisław...
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 16:47pm

...Lem [^]?

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:57pm

Sure. We already talked about him. In translation, too, by the way.
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 17:03pm

Yeah, now i remember.
If you ever find a time to read referenced book, you'll never regret ;)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 17:13pm

Frankly, it depends on quality of those referenced books. :-)
—SA

PIEBALDconsult · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07T08:24:00

Solution 2

My ProcessCommunicator[^] article may give you an idea of how to do that and some of the pitfalls.

I'd also like to point out that maybe the console app that processes the output needn't actually execute the command. You can write a processor app that reads its input from a pipe:

someutility | processor

Posted 7-Oct-14 8:24am

PIEBALDconsult

Updated 7-Oct-14 8:30am

v2

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 14:45pm

Interesting approach, 5ed.
—SA

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 14:50pm

Agree, +5!

User 11060979 · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-07T07:31:00

Solution 1

You can use the class Process and Redirect Input and Output of cmd.exe.
More or less an easy Thing, simply read the doc in MSDN an Play a Little bit.

BTW 1.) it is not DOS it is as you mentioned also "command prompt".
BTW 2.) There are other/better ways to get the same info.

[EDIT]
Ooooh yes it is Standard- Input/Output. See comment on this answer
[/EDIT]

Posted 7-Oct-14 7:31am

User 11060979

Updated 7-Oct-14 8:51am

v2

Comments

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 14:47pm

Agree, but that's StandardOutput should be redirected (I would also redirect StandardError, just in case).
Input comes in command line only (line in all more or less practical and reasonable command-line applications).
I voted 4, provided a bit more detail in my Solution 3.
—SA

[no name] 7-Oct-14 14:53pm

Thanks for your comment and your vote. Sorry, sometimes I forget about such "details" and assume it is clear.

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 14:52pm

Bruno, can you elaborate second point? Do you thing about WMI queries or something?

[no name] 7-Oct-14 14:59pm

I mean directly by WIN API one can have the Information. Because doing it with cmd.exe and the command ipconfig depends very much of the OS language which is installed....faced these last week on an chinese System :)

*Lol* just recognized after a comment of Sergey that you recomended something same ;)

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 15:04pm

In Poland we often use this sentence: What means experience?!

[no name] 7-Oct-14 15:07pm

Being at least as old as me :-)

Maciej Los 7-Oct-14 15:09pm

;)Have you seen my answer?

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 7-Oct-14 16:34pm

Bruno, I changed my mind as in first place I did not pay enough attention for your answer. Please, using command prompt is a huge mistake. You should not.
Please see my answer. See the difference? CMD.EXE is totally irrelevant and should not be used. This is a big common mistake (even though it would really work).
—SA

[no name] 8-Oct-14 2:45am

Hello Sergey, thank you for this hint. Yes I see the difference and just tested it. I was too much focusing on OP's "DOS" hint which led me to the assumption he wants to solve that via cmd.exe.
Bruno

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 8-Oct-14 11:39am

I understand; I did not change my vote or something, but you better change your answer. Redirection aside, starting a process should be
Process.Start("ipconfig", "some command line");
and never
Process.Start("cmd.exe", "/C ipconfig some command line");

The second form will work, but using it is a huge mistake; it would would start some totally redundant process, CMD.exe which had nothing to do... with anything. I was thinking why many make this mistake, and came to conclusion that this is a thinking of a non-programmer who starts programming and first tries to reproduce something which one would do manually, without understanding.

—SA