PHP + Command Line Execution

Question

I'm trying to run a .bat file using PHP from the command-line. I'm using Windows Vista Home Premium.

When I use the script on a file like ipconfig.exe, I get the output. However, when I run the .bat file, it gives me output of what is in the file but it doesn't execute it.

What is below works and give me output:

$runCommand = "C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ipconfig.exe";
$WshShell = new COM("WScript.Shell");
$output = $WshShell->Exec($runCommand)->StdOut->ReadAll;
echo "<p>$output</p>";

But this doesn't:

$runCommand = "C:\\Temp\\foo.bat";
$WshShell = new COM("WScript.Shell");
$output = $WshShell->Exec($runCommand)->StdOut->ReadAll;
echo "<p>$output</p>";

Here's what's in my foo.bat file:

C:/windows/system32/schtasks.exe /create /tn "TestTask" /tr "C:/Temp/configure.php" /sc minute /st 08:00:00

If I copy this and paste in my Windows Command Line, this command executes successfully.

Not sure what is going on. Kindly assist.

12 questions, 1 accepted answer. Please read the FAQ: http://stackoverflow.com/faq — Roberto Aloi, Dec 07 '10 at 18:25

score 1 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 09:58

1

That's because a bat file is a queued list of commands for a prompt. Try the following:

cmd /c myfile.bat

(it may be /k too, forget which executes and closes)

Also, duplicate of How do you run a .bat file from PHP?

EDIT

<?php
  // http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.exec.php#85930

  $_ = null;

  // If you care about the return value, use this:
    passthru("C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /c custom.bat",$_);
    header('Content-Type: text/plain');
    echo $_;
  // if you don't care, just use this:
    $_ = exec("C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /c custom.bat");
?>

edited May 23 '17 at 09:58

Community

1
1

answered Dec 07 '10 at 18:26

Brad Christie

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I replaced C:\\Temp\\foo.bat with C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /k C:\\Temp\\foo.bat but it still doesn't execute. – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 18:35
Please see the link I mentioned in my answer that points tot he other question relating to batch files and php. They have a wonderful example in the accepted answer. – Brad Christie Dec 07 '10 at 18:38
I tried exec('C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c START C:\Temp\foo.bat', $out), but it crashed my Apache server. Not sure how you got that to work?! – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 20:00
1

Please see my updated answer. Also, be sure to mark it as accepted since I've googling and RTM'n for you. – Brad Christie Dec 07 '10 at 20:12
Tried this: $_ = null; passthru("C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /c C:\\Temp\\foo.bat",$_); header('Content-Type: text/plain'); echo $_; Still not working. – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 20:31
Also tried: $_ = exec("C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /c C:\\Temp\\cronwin.bat"); Doesn't work either. I wonder if there was a way to tweak my initial script, at least with that I did get some output, but maybe I missed something in the declaration. – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 20:35
Then you're probably running in safe mode or something is off on your configuration. what does `echo php_get('save_mode');` return? Could also be listed in `echo ini_get('disable_functions');` – Brad Christie Dec 07 '10 at 20:39
php_get gives me a 'Call to undefined function error', ini_get('disable_functions') gives me nothing. – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 21:07
Sorry, ini_get in both scenarios. – Brad Christie Dec 07 '10 at 21:11
No output to the screen with ini_get('save_mode') – BannerMan Dec 07 '10 at 21:42
Can definitely tell it's getting late in the say, `ini_get('safe_mode');` On both accounts, my mistake. If that doesn't work I'm out of solutions. Something is messed up and I'm not sure what. All I can recommend is try going to your php directory and finding `php.ini-recommended`, copy it, and rename the copy to php.ini (all in same folder) then try again. If that doesn't work, exhaust google. – Brad Christie Dec 07 '10 at 21:53
I figured, I should have noticed that myself. My php.ini file has safe_mode set as Off. Not sure what might be causing this. Could it be my Windows version?! – BannerMan Dec 08 '10 at 01:00
Unless it has something to do with the UAC disabling PHP from running the script (possible). But your web service should be running at elevated privileges (and I assume the execution is spawned off the service, thus inheriting the same authorities). Do a search against PHP Windows 7 and exec/passthhru. – Brad Christie Dec 08 '10 at 01:13
Ok. I get output when I do something simple like this: exec('C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\ipconfig.exe', $out); print_r($out); So I figure exec() is working. It just seems like I'm missing something in the syntax. Anyway, thanks, I'll keep looking for a solution. – BannerMan Dec 08 '10 at 12:11

PHP + Command Line Execution

1 Answers1