cmd and %cd% (any other way to get the "prompt")

[enaiman]

I'm trying for a couple of hours to figure a way to get the prompt value from a cmd window.

I know I can get the text from the window and from the text to "isolate" the string which is the "prompt". It is working but I don't like the way it is done.

I know that the DOS prompt format can be read from env variable "PROMPT" (usually $P$G) and I know that the current path value ($P) is stored in %cd%. That would make it easy enough to get the "prompt" value by having this info.

- I can get very easy the value from "PROMPT" with a simple EnvGet("PROMPT")

The problem:

- I can't get the value for "%cd%"

From a cmd if you type in "echo %cd%" it will return the current path.

If I am looking at all environment variables, %cd% is nowhere to be found and a simple EnvGet("%cd%") returns nothing.

The question: can I get the value for %cd" in a variable?

I tried @WorkingDir and it is not the one I need.

Thanks,

[Malkey]

Maybe this.

;ConsoleWrite(  _getDOSOutput('date /T') & @CRLF)
ConsoleWrite( _getDOSOutput("cd") & @CRLF)
;ConsoleWrite(  _getDOSOutput('dir') & @CRLF)

; http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=106254&view=findpost&p=750640
; See StdoutRead() Help file
Func _getDOSOutput($command)
    Local $text = '', $Pid = Run('"' & @ComSpec & '" /c ' & $command, '', @SW_HIDE, 2 + 4)
    While 1
        $text &= StdoutRead($Pid, False, False)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(10)
    WEnd
    Return $text
EndFunc   ;==>_getDOSOutput

Edit: Also try "ConsoleWrite( _getDOSOutput("cd /?") & @CRLF)". "/?" for dos help

Edited February 4, 2011 by Malkey

[enaiman]

Thanks for reply, that will work. Unfortunately I can't use that.

I am trying to have an easy way to get the prompt, and to do it every time a command starting with "cd ..." is executed (is changing the path = changing the prompt). That requires that the "original" cmd to stay open.

Actually all these dynamic environment variables: %cd%, %time% and %date% are commands, if you run them, you get the desired results.

My only hope for an easy solve would be if I could "read" somehow the value of %cd%

With every hour it seem to me that I have less and less chances to get this done (been reading meanwhile ) and I better do it the way I know.

[GEOSoft]

Perhaps MsgBox(0, "Test", @WorkingDir)

Also see FileChangeDir() and EnvGet() in the help file.

[enaiman]

@GEOSoft

Thanks for the answer but unfortunately it doesn't help. @WorkingDir doesn't return the correct path, and the environment doesn't have any of these variables (%cd%, %date%, %time%).

I've put together something to solve this problem but it's involving writing to a temporary file whenever a "cd .." command is sent, then reading the file. Works but it's "ugly"

Still hoping for a more elegant solution.

Edited February 4, 2011 by enaiman

[Richard Robertson]

The working directory is the same thing as the %cd environment variable. Are you sure you just aren't executing the script from the wrong place?

For instance, if you are in "C:\thisdir" and you run some script that does a message box with @WorkingDir, it should show "C:\thisdir". If this isn't the case, you've got a problem.

[JoHanatCent]

Are you perhaps doing a runas?

[BrewManNH]

There is a workaround if the other methods mentioned don't work as you'd like. You can execute a "dir>C:\Dirlisting.txt" in the console window, and read the 4th line of that file. Everything after the words " Directory of " to the end of the line is the current folder path of where the Dir command was executed. Simple enough to read that text, then delete the file. It's crude but it works.

[rover]

I'm trying for a couple of hours to figure a way to get the prompt value from a cmd window.

I know I can get the text from the window and from the text to "isolate" the string which is the "prompt". It is working but I don't like the way it is done.

I know that the DOS prompt format can be read from env variable "PROMPT" (usually $P$G) and I know that the current path value ($P) is stored in %cd%. That would make it easy enough to get the "prompt" value by having this info.

- I can get very easy the value from "PROMPT" with a simple EnvGet("PROMPT")

The problem:

- I can't get the value for "%cd%"

From a cmd if you type in "echo %cd%" it will return the current path.

If I am looking at all environment variables, %cd% is nowhere to be found and a simple EnvGet("%cd%") returns nothing.

The question: can I get the value for %cd" in a variable?

I tried @WorkingDir and it is not the one I need.

Thanks,

enaiman

Sysinternals Process Explorer can do it, and so can you

(PE properties image tab shows current directory)

Ascend4nt has a convenient ready to go UDF of the API's required

Process + Thread + DLL Functions UDFs

http://sites.google.com/site/ascend4ntscode/processfunctions

File + Process Imports and Exports UDFs with PE32+ (x64 Support!)

Get the current working directory for cmd.exe

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/217951/get-the-current-working-directory-for-cmd-exe

Cross process Environment Vars

http://forum.sysinternals.com/topic629.html

Edit: removed unused include, changed on exit close handle code, fixed typo

expandcollapse popup

;some issues with use of Dim and vars already declared/assigned/not used
;in UDF if this line used
;#AutoIt3Wrapper_Au3Check_Parameters=-d -w 1 -w 2 -w 3 -w 4 -w 5 -w 6

;place Ascend4nt's UDF in folder of your choice and edit these two lines
#include "PROCESS-ASCENDANT\_ProcessFunctions.au3"
#include "PROCESS-ASCENDANT\_ProcessUndocumented.au3"
#include <ProcessConstants.au3>

;coded by rover 2k11

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)
HotKeySet("{ESC}", "Terminate")
Global $aProc[1][3]

;tested on XP only
;continously monitors any open cmd.exe console for current directory change
;open some console windows and change directory at prompt...

;if you want to continuously monitor for new command consoles, then use SetWinEventHook()
;to wait for ConsoleWindowClass class windows creation and add PID and process handle to array

;or modify this example using WinList() to check for and add new consoles

GetCMDConsolesCurDir()

Func GetCMDConsolesCurDir()
    Local $iPIDCon, $iA, $aProcStr
    Local $aList = WinList("[CLASS:ConsoleWindowClass]")
    For $i = 1 To $aList[0][0]
        $iPIDCon = WinGetProcess($aList[$i][1])
        ConsoleWrite("+ Title: " & $aList[$i][0] & @LF & "+ Handle: " & $aList[$i][1] & @LF & "+ PID: " & $iPIDCon & @CRLF)
        $iA = UBound($aProc)
        $aProc[$iA - 1][0] = $iPIDCon
        $aProc[$iA - 1][1] = _ProcessOpen($iPIDCon, $PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION + $PROCESS_VM_READ)
        ReDim $aProc[UBound($aProc) + 1][3]
    Next

    Do
        Sleep(100)
        For $j = 0 To UBound($aProc) - 1
            If ProcessExists($aProc[$j][0]) Then
                $aProcStr = _ProcessUDGetStrings($aProc[$j][1])
                If $aProc[$j][2] == $aProcStr[0] Then ContinueLoop
                $aProc[$j][2] = $aProcStr[0]
                ConsoleWrite("- CMD.EXE PID: " & $aProc[$j][0] & " | Current Dir: " & $aProcStr[0] & @CRLF & "Error code: " & @error & @CRLF)
            EndIf
        Next
        $aList = WinList("[CLASS:ConsoleWindowClass]")
    Until $aList[0][0] = 0

    Terminate()

EndFunc   ;==>GetCMDConsolesCurDir



Func Terminate()
    Local $fClose, $sCol = "+"

    For $i = 0 To UBound($aProc) - 1
        If IsPtr($aProc[$i][1]) Then
            $fClose = _ProcessCloseHandle($aProc[$i][1])
            If $fClose = False Then $sCol = "!"
            ConsoleWrite($sCol & " PID: " & $aProc[$i][0] & " Process handle closed: " & $fClose & @CRLF & "Error code: " & @error & @CRLF)
        EndIf
    Next
    Exit
EndFunc   ;==>Terminate

Edited February 7, 2011 by rover

[enaiman]

@RichardRobertson

Try this script (no matter if compiled or not)

#include <Constants.au3>

$CmdPid = Run(@SystemDir & "\cmd.exe", "C:\Windows", @SW_HIDE, $STDERR_MERGED + $STDIN_CHILD)
MsgBox(0, "", @WorkingDir)

It doesn't return C:\Windows at all, @WorkingDir returns the folder where your script/exe is run from.

@rover

Thanks alot for all the work you've put into this answer. It works wonderful and it is much more that what I was expecting. I will shorten it to fit my needs but it's awesome

Thanks to all others who contributed to this thread.

[Malkey]

This is to clarify there are two working directories. There is the working directory of cmd.exe (Dos prompt) and the working directory of AutoIt script.

;ConsoleWrite(  _getDOSOutput('ECHO %date%') & @CRLF)

ConsoleWrite( _getDOSOutput("cd") & @CRLF)               ; Working directory of cmd.exe (Dos prompt)
ConsoleWrite( _getDOSOutput("ECHO %cd%") & @CRLF)  ; Working directory of cmd.exe
ConsoleWrite(@WorkingDir & @CRLF) ; Working directory of AutoIt script
ConsoleWrite(@ScriptDir & @CRLF)  ; Working directory of AutoIt script

; http://www.autoitscript.com/forum/index....?showtopic=106254&view=findpos
; See StdoutRead() Help file
Func _getDOSOutput($command)
    Local $text = '', $Pid = Run('"' & @ComSpec & '" /c ' & $command, @WindowsDir, @SW_HIDE, 2 + 4)
    While 1
        $text &= StdoutRead($Pid, False, False)
        If @error Then ExitLoop
        Sleep(10)
    WEnd
    Return StringStripWS($text,2)
EndFunc   ;==>_getDOSOutput

[enaiman]

@Malkey

Thanks for your input. Your solution works but it is exactly what I was doing previously (getting the whole output, isolating the prompt ...) and I wanted to avoid that. Fortunately Rover's solution was the one I liked very much. y script is basically doing this:

- I open a cmd window at the begining of the script

- I am using StdInWrite and StdOutRead to communicate with that cmd window (sending commands and receiving)

- I need always to know what the prompt is (hence the current path for $p$g prompt) just to be able to detect when a command has finished running so I can send the next one

@rover

Here is what I ended up using:

;place Ascend4nt's UDF in folder of you choice and edit these two lines
#include '_ProcessFunctions.au3'
#include '_ProcessUndocumented.au3'
#include <ProcessConstants.au3>
;coded by rover 2k11

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)

Global Const $STDIN_CHILD = 1
Global Const $STDOUT_CHILD = 2
Global Const $STDERR_CHILD = 4
Global Const $STDERR_MERGED = 8
Global Const $STDIO_INHERIT_PARENT = 0x10
Global Const $RUN_CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE = 0x10000

Global $CmdPid = Run(@SystemDir & "\cmd.exe", "C:\windows\help", @SW_HIDE, $STDERR_MERGED + $STDIN_CHILD)
MsgBox(0, "", GetCMDConsoleCurDir($CmdPid))

Func GetCMDConsoleCurDir($pPID)
    Local $aProcStr
    $aProcStr = _ProcessUDGetStrings(_ProcessOpen($pPID, $PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION + $PROCESS_VM_READ))
    If @error Then Return SetError(1)
    Return StringTrimRight($aProcStr[0], 1)
EndFunc   ;==>GetCMDConsoleCurDir

It is much simple, and tailored for a specific case

I had to add these constants manually because by including "Constants.au3" I got many errors about constants already defined.

[Richard Robertson]

I misunderstood. You are attempting to read the working directory of an external program, not your AutoIt script?

[GEOSoft]

He's tring to read the working directory as seen by Windows which will seldom be the AutoIt working dir.

[enaiman]

@RichardRobertson

My bad. Misunderstandings are happening when OP didn't explain clear enough what he needs help with. I should have posted that small example from the begining.

Well, lesson learned

[rover]

@enaiman

Without _ProcessCloseHandle() you increase your processes

open handle count by one with each call to GetCMDConsoleCurDir()

Your example returns a blank string.

you need ProcessWait() before calling GetCMDConsoleCurDir()

#include '_ProcessFunctions.au3'
#include '_ProcessUndocumented.au3'
#include <ProcessConstants.au3>

Opt("MustDeclareVars", 1)

Global Const $STDIN_CHILD = 1
Global Const $STDOUT_CHILD = 2
Global Const $STDERR_CHILD = 4
Global Const $STDERR_MERGED = 8
Global Const $STDIO_INHERIT_PARENT = 0x10
Global Const $RUN_CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE = 0x10000

Global $CmdPid = Run(@SystemDir & "\cmd.exe", "C:\windows\help", @SW_HIDE, $STDERR_MERGED + $STDIN_CHILD)
ProcessWait($CmdPid, 5)
Global $CurDir = GetCMDConsoleCurDir($CmdPid)
ConsoleWrite("-Error code: "  & @error & @lf & "Error: " & @extended & @CRLF)
MsgBox(0, "", $CurDir)


Func GetCMDConsoleCurDir($pPID)
    Local $hProc = _ProcessOpen($pPID, $PROCESS_QUERY_INFORMATION + $PROCESS_VM_READ)
    If @error Or IsPtr($hProc) = 0 Then Return SetError(1, @error)
    Local $aProcStr = _ProcessUDGetStrings($hProc)
    If @error Or IsArray($aProcStr) = 0 Then Return SetError(2, @error)
    Local $sTemp = StringTrimRight($aProcStr[0], 1)
    SetError(0, @error)
    If _ProcessCloseHandle($hProc) = False Then SetError(3, @error)
    Return $sTemp
EndFunc   ;==>GetCMDConsoleCurDir

[enaiman]

@rover

Thank you very much for _ProcessCloseHandle(); I had no idea that I need to close the handle everytime (again: lesson learned)

Thank you for the example too - I realised that my @error reading was only for _ProcessUDGetStrings(); you have corrected that; I will use your example.

I have no idea why the example I have posted returned an empty string for you - it works very well on my computer (Win7).