Understanding The AutoIt Run Command Structure

[MikeK6MKF]

Hi Gang,

I am the newest of AutoIt scripting newbies.  I just downloaded AutoIt yesterday and am building a prototype of an application.

I have my GUI working pretty well with placeholder statements in each Case statement.

What I am seeking advice on is how to translate the following Windows command line instruction into AutoIt Run syntax:

start AcroRd32.exe /A "page=7" "C:UsersMike-K6MKFDesktopK6TU Predictions_K6MKF MAR 2015UTC_17.pdf"

In Windows this starts AcroRd32.exe with the "page=7" parameter and reads the specified .pdf file.  Works great, opens page #7.

Now I want to do this in an AutoIt script.   I've read the Run function description and had a lot of trials and errors - mostly errors.

This part works, and starts up Acrobat, but I can't figure out how to pass Acrobat the /A "page=7" open parameter or point it to my .pdf file.

Dim $AcrobatPath = "C:Program Files (x86)AdobeReader 11.0ReaderAcroRd32.exe /n"

 

Case $iMsg = $idM80

     Run ($AcrobatPath)

 

Any suggestions and assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Jos]

This should be close:

Run('"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" /A page=7 "C:\Users\Mike-K6MKF\Desktop\K6TU Predictions\_K6MKF MAR 2015\UTC_17.pdf"')

Jos

[TheSaint]

You are probably falling foul of spaces in a parameter, which you overcome using quotes.

You could have

$AcrobatPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"
$parameter = ' /A "page=7" "C:\Users\Mike-K6MKF\Desktop\K6TU Predictions\_K6MKF MAR 2015\UTC_17.pdf"'
Run($AcrobatPath & $parameter)

Note the leading space at the beginning of $parameter

Also the use of single and double quotes.

To enclose double quotes, you use single quotes or vice-a-versa.

You may also need to provide the working directory.

But, perhaps using ShellExecute would work better.

[TheSaint]

Ha, Jos beat me to it.

[MikeK6MKF]

Not just close, but exactly correct, Jos!   Thank you very much!   Now I can keep working with my prototype until my next obstacle.

[MikeK6MKF]

My thanks to TheSaint for additional information about the Run command.  This will certainly come in handy as I continue to learn AutoIt!

[MikeK6MKF]

This statement works great:

Case $iMsg = $idM80

Run('"C:Program Files (x86)AdobeReader 11.0ReaderAcroRd32.exe" /A page=16 "C:PredictionsUTC_80.pdf"')

 

My next question is how do I substitute a $page variable for the value 16 in the page=16 parameter expression?

 

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[TheSaint]

You really should be asking these questions in General Help & Support.

There are two main methods, either do StringReplace on 16

Or using something like my earlier code.

$AcrobatPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Reader 11.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe"
$page = "8"
$parameter = ' /A "page=' & $page & '" "C:\Users\Mike-K6MKF\Desktop\K6TU Predictions\_K6MKF MAR 2015\UTC_17.pdf"'
Run($AcrobatPath & $parameter)

Edited March 3, 2015 by TheSaint

[MikeK6MKF]

OK - I'll head on over there!  Thanks for your support!