Running External Commands and Executables from Windows Command Prompt

The Windows Command Prompt, also known as cmd.exe, is a powerful tool for executing commands and running external programs. However, it can sometimes be challenging to get it to recognize and run the commands or executables we need. In this tutorial, we will explore how to successfully run external commands and executables from the Command Prompt.

Understanding How Command Prompt Works

The Command Prompt relies on environment variables and input to perform actions. When you enter a command, it first checks if the command is an internal command (built into cmd.exe) or an external command (an executable file). If it’s an external command, the Command Prompt searches for the executable in two places:

1. The current working directory.
2. All locations specified in the %PATH% environment variable.

Running Executables with Spaces in Their Paths

When running executables with spaces in their paths, you need to enclose the entire path in double quotes. For example, if you want to run C:\Program Files\My-App\Mobile.exe, you should enter:

"C:\Program Files\My-App\Mobile.exe"

This tells the Command Prompt to treat the entire string as a single command.

Adding Locations to the %PATH% Environment Variable

If you frequently run executables from a specific directory, you can add that directory to the %PATH% environment variable. To do this:

1. Open the System Properties window by pressing Win + Pause/Break or right-clicking on "Computer" and selecting "Properties."
2. Click on "Advanced system settings" on the left side.
3. Click on "Environment Variables."
4. Under "System Variables," scroll down and find the "Path" variable, then click "Edit."
5. Click "New" and enter the path to the directory containing your executables.
6. Click "OK" to close all the windows.

After adding a new location to the %PATH% variable, you need to restart any open Command Prompt windows for the changes to take effect.

Specifying the Full Path to an Executable

If you don’t want to add a directory to the %PATH% variable, you can specify the full path to the executable when running it. For example:

"C:\My_Files\mycommand.exe"

This method is useful when you only need to run an executable once or from a specific location.

Changing the Working Directory

You can also change the working directory to the location of your executables using the cd command. For example:

cd /D C:\My_Files
mycommand.exe

This method is useful when you need to run multiple executables from the same directory.

Using the Start Command

The start command can be used to run executables and specify a working directory. For example:

start /D C:\My_Files mycommand.exe

This method is useful when you want to run an executable in a specific directory without changing the current working directory.

In conclusion, running external commands and executables from the Windows Command Prompt requires understanding how it searches for executables and how to specify paths correctly. By adding locations to the %PATH% environment variable, specifying full paths, changing the working directory, or using the start command, you can successfully run any executable from the Command Prompt.