Using PHP to execute cmd commands

Question

How do I properly execute commands in the command line using php? For example I'm using the command below in the command line to convert a docx file into a pdf file:

pdfcreator.exe /PF"D:\Documents\sample.docx

Now using PHP code I want to be able to execute the same command but nothing seems to be happening:

<?php
shell_exec('pdfcreator.exe /PF"D:\Documents\sample.docx"');
?>

Is this possible in PHP?If yes, how do I do it?

### Update Do you get any errors in your logs? What happens if you wrap that shell_exec call in a var_export? ### Original Have you tried system() instead? Here is the documentation: php.net/manual/en/function.system.php. — Eric H
– Eric H, Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 14:25
I've tried system and all the other functions for executing commands on the system(exec, shell_exec, system, pcntl_exec, passthru) — Wern Ancheta
– Wern Ancheta, Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 14:27
I'm not the one who downvoted, your answer is much appreciated. — Wern Ancheta
– Wern Ancheta, Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 14:28
No problem man. I probably deserved the -1, but it is good form to explain why a downvote occurred. I didn't think you were the one who downvoted anyway. On topic: I would check out sixeightzero's answer. Using escapeshellcmd() would accomplish Piotr Olaszewski's answer but without the manual escaping. Good luck! — Eric H
– Eric H, Commented Jun 26, 2012 at 14:34

Piotr Olaszewski · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-26 14:27:03Z

13

system("c:\\path\\to\\pdfcreator.exe /PF\"D:\\Documents\\sample.docx"");

try this.

answered Jun 26, 2012 at 14:27

Piotr Olaszewski

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3 Comments

Wern Ancheta Over a year ago

do I still need to include the path to the executable file if I already included it in the environment variables?

Piotr Olaszewski Over a year ago

I'm not for sure, but safety is pass all path.

Wern Ancheta Over a year ago

I get a syntax error so I changed it to something like this based on the code that you provided: system('C:\\Program Files\\PDFCreator\\pdfcreator.exe /PF\"D:\\Documents\\sample.docx"'); but still no luck.

Mike Mackintosh · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-26 14:29:06Z

6

Don't forget to escape your command with escapeshellcmd(). This will prevent you from having to use ugly backslashes and escape characters.

There are also other alternatives which may work:

`command` // back ticks drop you out of PHP mode into shell
exec('command', $output); // exec will allow you to capture the return of a command as reference
shell_exec('command'); // will return the output to a variable
system(); //as seen above.

Also, make sure your .exe is included within your $PATH variable. If not, include the full path for the command.

answered Jun 26, 2012 at 14:29

Mike Mackintosh

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2 Comments

Wern Ancheta Over a year ago

Tried the code below based on your answer, but still doesn't work. Did I mess something up: <?php $command = escapeshellcmd('pdfcreator.exe /PF"D:\Documents\sample.docx"'); $command; exec($command, $output); shell_exec($command); system(); ?>

Mike Mackintosh Over a year ago

When you run the script from CLI does it output anything? Try something like: $command = escapeshellcmd('pdfcreator.exe /PF"D:\Documents\sample.docx" > C:\outfile');. does anything get written to C:\outfile?

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