execl()'ing batch files in DOS

[Earl H. Kinmonth]

>>
>>	execl("\command.com", "tryit.bat", NULL);
>>

There are a number of errors in this.  The proper call to execl is

execl(char *path, char *arg0, char *arg1, char *argN, NULL);

Usually path = arg0 = executable program name.

Second, command.com -c string is the pattern used to get command.com to
execute something other than keyboard input.  Assuming command.com is
in the root directory of drive c:, try the command:

	path = "c:/command.com";
	execl(path,path,"-c","tryit.bat",NULL);

You should not need to use the backslash.  If your version of execl
is brain-dead and you must use a backslash, double it to get proper
string interpretation.

Earl H. Kinmonth
History Department
University of California, Davis
Davis, California  95616
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