executing cleartool from java

Howdy all,

I need some helps in running cleartool commands from inside a Java class. Cleartool is an internal command of IBM's Rational ClearCase repository software. The constraint that these commands have is that they should be executed under the mounted drive of ClearCase (in my case, it is under my M: drive). For example, to be able to run the "lshistory" command against foo.java, I should type "cleartool lshistory foo.java" under M: prompt.

I know that I should use the Runtime's exec() method. I've tried the following, but I still don't get what I want.

String[] cmd = { "cmd.exe", "/C", "M:\\cleartool", "lshistory", filename }; Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd); BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader( proc.getInputStream())); String s; String inline = ""; while ((s = br1.readLine()) != null){ inline += s; } //inline will be returned.

Theoritically, "inline" should contain the result of lshistory. But, in this instance, inline has a null.

Any helps will be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

I'm using the ClearCase plugin for Eclipse. Perhaps taking a look at the source code available on SourceForge will help you find out how to do what you want to do.

Thanks Barry,
I'll look into that later.

Let's put my problem in a very generic form. Say that I have a class called command.java in which lies a method that will list the contents of a directory (by executing the dos command "dir"). I put this command.java in C: drive. What I'd like this program to do is to list the contents of another drive letter, say D: (D: will always exist). My code below will not let me do it.
public String getDirOutput() { try { String[] cmd1 = {"cmd.exe", "/C", "D:", "dir"}; Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd2); // For normal stream reading BufferedReader br1 = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( p.getInputStream())); // For error stream reading BufferedReader br2 = new BufferedReader( new InputStreamReader( p.getErrorStream())); String message = "Return from getDirOutput():\n"; String s; String output = ""; // Normal reading takes place here while ((s = br1.readLine()) != null) { output += s + "\n"; System.out.println("in br1"); } // Error stream reading starts here, if any if ( output.equals("") ) { while ((s = br2.readLine()) != null) { output += s + "\n"; System.out.println("in br2"); } } return (message+output); } catch ( IOException ioe ) { System.out.println("ERROR: " + ioe); } return "WARNING: End of getDirOutput()\n"; }

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

[ November 11, 2005: Message edited by: Miguel Antonioli ]
[ November 11, 2005: Message edited by: Miguel Antonioli ]

Using the following works for me:
String[] cmd1 = {"cmd.exe", "/C", "dir"}; Process p = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(cmd1, null, new File("E:\\"));

It lists the files on my E: drive. Notice the File object setting the working directory to E:\
[ November 11, 2005: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

Barry, thanks a lot. I should have checked the API before I asked

In Java5 look at ProcessBuilder. That makes setting up current directory, paths and environment variables for executed commands much clearer.