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Creating a Run statement in AutoIT3 involving a multi-nested command string with arguments


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I'm hoping someone can tell me how to create a Run statement in AutoIT3 involving a multi-nested command string with arguments. Although my inquiry is specific to a single command line, the problem would arise anytime AutoIT3 attempts to pass to Windows a particularly complex command with arguments.

In Windows, the following string, used in a desktop shortcut, will launch Firefox 24 ESR Portable (i.e., Firefox using its "own" profile in a directory below the one holding firefox.exe) in a window protected by Sandboxie:

"C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe" "F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe" -no-remote -profile "firefox 24 ESR"

The final portion of the string ( -no-remote -profile "firefox 24 ESR") points Firefox toward the directory holding the Firefox profile. Leaving out any of the sets of quotes in this string will prevent Firefox from launching properly in Windows.

As is my usual practice, I first tried to transfer this string into a Run statement by enclosing it in another set of parentheses, as well as opening and closing parentheses:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe" "F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe" -no-remote -profile "firefox 24 ESR"")

However, in this form, AutoIT reports a syntax error after the first 3 characters, and stops processing: Run(""C

I then tried to remove the quotes around the command portions of the string, leaving only the profile name quoted:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe -no-remote -profile "firefox 24 ESR"")

That succeeded only in shifting the syntax error further right in the string: "firefox

I then tried changing the name of the profile directory itself, so that there were no breaks in that portion of the string:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe -no-remote -profile firefox")

That form permits the script to complete, and open Firefox under the control of Sandboxie. However, the profile is not loaded.

Next, I experimented with () around the revised profile folder name:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe -no-remote -profile (firefox)")

AutoIt3 then refused to process any part of the script, citing a "syntax error (illegal character)"

Then, I attempted <> around the entire profile instructions:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe <-no-remote -profile firefox>")

Again the script completes, but Firefox complains this time: "Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or corrupt."

Enclosing only the name of the profile itself in <> produced the same result:

Run("C:Program FilesSandboxieStart.exe F:Firefox 24 ESRcorefirefox.exe -no-remote -profile <firefox>")

That does it. I'm just guessing at this point. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Surround the whole command line in single quotes at either end, then the double quotes inside wouldn't be an issue.

Run('"C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe" "F:\Firefox 24 ESR\core\firefox.exe" -no-remote -profile "firefox 24 ESR"')

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I downloaded Sandboxie and FF portable. I couldn't get it to run correctly with a Run statement. Splitting the command and running it with ShellExecute did work for me. Here's some code to try:

$i = "C:\Program Files\Sandboxie\Start.exe"
$j = '"' & "F:\Firefox 24 ESR\core\firefox.exe" & '"' & "-no-remote -profile " & '"' & "firefox 24 ESR" & '"'
ShellExecute($i, $j)
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