Executing Operating System Commands

The execute command ("xecute") is simple but useful. It is used to execute operating system commands outside of the ILOG CPLEX environment. By using xecute, you avoid having to save a problem and quit ILOG CPLEX in order to carry out a system function (such as viewing a directory, for example).

As an example, if you wanted to check whether all of the files saved in the last session are really in the current working directory, the following ILOG CPLEX command shows the contents of the current directory in a UNIX operating system, using the UNIX command ls: 

xecute ls -l

total 7448

-r--r--r--    1      3258 Jul 14 10:34 afiro.mps

-rwxr-xr-x    1   3783416 Apr 22 10:32 cplex

-rw-r--r--    1      3225 Jul 14 14:21 cplex.log

-rw-r--r--    1       145 Jul 14 11:32 example

-rw-r--r--    1       112 Jul 14 11:32 example.bas

-rw-r--r--    1       148 Jul 14 11:32 example.lp

-rw-r--r--    1       146 Jul 14 11:32 example2

After the command is executed, the CPLEX> prompt returns, indicating that you are still in ILOG CPLEX. Most commands that can normally be entered from the prompt for your operating system can also be entered with the xecute command. The command may be as simple as listing the contents of a directory or printing the contents of a file, or as complex as starting a text editor to modify a file. Anything that can be entered on one line after the operating system prompt can also be executed from within ILOG CPLEX. However, this command differs from other ILOG CPLEX commands in that it must be entered on a single line. No prompt will be issued. In addition, the operating system may fail to carry out the command if insufficient memory is available. In that case, no message is issued by the operating system, and the result is a return to the CPLEX> prompt.

Summary

The general syntax for the xecute command is:

  xecute command line
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