Space in directory gives problem in Process.Start

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1.50/5 (4 votes)

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Hi,

I have written following code to open .net application

C#

String path;
 path=@"D:\test App\dec\dec.sln";
 Process.Start("devenv.exe", path);

It has problem because 'test App' folder contain space.

Anybody knows any work around for this..

Thanks,
Nagraj

Posted 15-Feb-11 20:00pm

Naik Nagraj

Updated 16-Jan-19 13:25pm

Tarun.K.S

v2

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**JF2015** · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-15T20:09:00

Solution 1

Hi,
try this solution that works for me:

C#

string path = "\"D:\\test App\\dec.sln\"";
Process.Start("devenv.exe", path);

Posted 15-Feb-11 20:09pm

JF2015

Comments

Espen Harlinn 16-Feb-11 15:01pm

Nice and simple, my 5

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-15T20:35:00

Solution 3

I'm sorry for incorrect answer I posted in first place.

The problem is indeed blank spaces and only because of the second parameter.
First parameter is full path name of the file in one string, second parameter: command line.

Then blank spaces are normally not needed, but the problem is in the application run in the process to be launched: command is parsed into command line parameters delimited by blank spaces. If some parameter should come with blank spaces inside, it should be surrounded by quotation marks, otherwise it is broken: parsed as two or more parameters.

In this example "D:\test App\dec\dec.sln" was parsed as two parameters:
"D:\test" and "App\dec\dec.sln". Adding quotation make should fix it.

The correct fix is shown in the Answer by J2015.

—SA

Posted 15-Feb-11 20:35pm

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov

Updated 11-Apr-14 23:51pm

v6

Comments

JF2015 16-Feb-11 2:42am

I disagree. This error is related to blank spaces. The OP correctly uses Process.Start("devenv.exe", path) which starts visual studio with the solution specified under "path". His code works perfectly for me when using a path without spaces and my solution works even if there are spaces in the path.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Feb-11 3:31am

Nishant, you are right and you vote of "1" was correct, I realized my mistake later.
I apologize. I put explanation in the update of my Answer.
--SA

JF2015 16-Feb-11 3:34am

I tested it with VS2008 and that is the only solution that worked for me.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Feb-11 10:48am

I was wrong. I fixed my answer: put detailed explanation.
Sorry.
--SA

Olivier Levrey 16-Feb-11 4:15am

This must be the right answer. Quotes are not needed for parameters. I made a quick test and it worked.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Feb-11 10:35am

Unfortunately, I was wrong. Please see undated answer for explanation.
Thank you.
--SA

Olivier Levrey 16-Feb-11 15:24pm

I did the test with Notepad and worked... then it probably means that notepad is taking the full command line and not only the first argument! I should have tested with something else ;)

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Feb-11 15:40pm

This is not about "taking" argument, this is about how application parses it.
Extra quotation characters are part of a separate command argument, not a part of argument of Process method, if you will. I was caught on that simple thing.
--SA

ali rasoulzadeh 12-Apr-14 3:10am

very nice Solution
string path = "\""+fileNameafter1+"\"";

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 12-Apr-14 5:54am

No. Repeated concatenation is bad, because string is immutable; never do it.
Should be:

string path = string.Format(@"\{0}\", fileName);

—SA

ali rasoulzadeh 13-Apr-14 1:22am

yes, very good

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 13-Apr-14 11:58am

:-)