Launch External Script CMD/BAT in lua module (1 Viewer)

[tecno214]

Good evening..

One question..
There is the possibility to run an external script inside a lua module?
I view the os.execute command but i don't know the perfect usage of this function....

Thank You in advance for your response at my question..

 

[dinsdale247]

local sf = string.format --~I hate typing string.format

local function run_cmd(cmd, param_string)
    command_str = sf("%s %s", cmd, param_string or "")
    print("Running:",command_str)
    local result = os.execute(command_str)

    return result
end


print("Result: ", run_cmd("echo", "Hello World"))
print("Result: ",run_cmd("dir", "c:\temp"))
print("Result: ",run_cmd("powershell", '"ls c:/temp"'))

os.execute does not give you access to the output of the command, it only give you a success or failure. If you want to manipulate the output of the command (e.g. store it in a string for later), you need to use io.popen:

local function mangle_output(cmd, param_string)
    command_str = sf("%s %s", cmd, param_string or "")
    print("Running:",command_str) 
    
    local handle = io.popen(command_str)
    local match = handle:read("*a")
    match = match:gsub("0", "X")
    return match
end


print("Result: ",mangle_output("dir", "c:\\temp"))
print("Result: ",mangle_output("powershell", '"ls c:/temp"'))

This is a simplistic use of io.popen. You can read it line by line as well. Check out the lua reference on file:read.

In Windows, you can't interact with commands in Lua (e.g. read, write, read, write). In Linux or BSD there are a couple of tools, but it's not straightforward.

Here is a script I wrote a while ago that uses powershell functions to run commands and fetch/install luarocks. It doesn't work correctly anymore (WTH???) but it does run. Check out the function return_shell_output, it gets the shell output and then matches a pattern in the output (e.g. looks for a result). Return_shell_output2 does the same thing but with CMD. [Note: The code is a little gnarly.]

 lua .\fetch-luarocks.lua -u

Finally, I would recommend you grab a copy of the Programming In Lua book. It's really good and it's very easy to read. I found it fills in the holes that learning Lua on the internet leaves.

Helps?

 

[tecno214]

Thank you for the explanation.
Therefore it is better to use the io.popen command.

Question: what is the script patch to run in the example above ..
For example if I have to run this script

c: \ temp \ test.cmd

How do I apply it to the lua language?

 

[dinsdale247]

local sf = string.format --~I hate typing string.format

--This function isn't used, it's here for reference
local function run_cmd(cmd, param_string)
    command_str = sf("%s %s", cmd, param_string or "")
    print("Running with os.execute:",command_str)
    local result = os.execute(command_str)

    return result
end

local function mangle_output(cmd, param_string)
    command_str = sf("%s %s", cmd, param_string or "")
    print("Running:",command_str)
   
    local handle = io.popen(command_str)
    local match = handle:read("*a")
    match = match:gsub("0", "X")
    return match
end

--Check if there is anything to run
if #arg > 0 then
    -- concatinate the arg table containing all the arguments to our script,
    -- then run it through our mangler.
    local result = mangle_output(table.concat(arg, " "))
    if result then
        print(result)
    else
        print("no result?")
    end
else

    print("please provide at least one command.")
end

Save this as mangler.lua. Then call

lua mangler.lua c:\\temp\\test.cmd param1 param2

If you use single backslash in windows, you may wind up with unexpected behavior if you manipulate the strings in lua. Use double backslash or a single forward(CMD understand forward slash, some programs don't).

This lua script can also be wrapped in a bat or ps1 script for "ease of use".

If you need a lua installation, there are two options at winlua.net (lua only or complete toolchain including luarocks)