Runs a shell command and returns its output.
# Metadata
Platforms: desktop, server OS: mac, windows, linux Introduced: 1.0 Security:
# Syntax
the shell of commandLine
# Params
- commandLine :
# Examples
local tMyList put shell("ls -l *.txt") into tMyList -- returns a listing of the current dir on Unix
get shell(field "Command") -- runs the shell command entered into the field labelled "Command"
get shell("attrib main.rev +R") -- sets the read-only (+R or +r) attribute of file "main.rev" on MSWindows
get shell("say" && "hello world") -- Will say the phrase on MacOS
# Description
Use the shell function to execute a command line.
The commandLine must be a valid shell command on the current operating system. Use the shellCommand property to set the shell you want to use. The command is executed in the current defaultFolder.
>*Note:* If you use a file path in the shell command on a Windows > system, the file path must be in Windows form, not the Unix-style > file paths that LiveCode uses internally.
To prevent a console window from appearing when the shell command is executed, set the hideConsoleWindows property to true.
>*Tip:* If you are having problems with the shell function, try > execute the commandLine at your operating system's > shell prompt. (For example, on an OS X, try executing > the commandLine in the Terminal window.) If a commandLine does not > work at the shell prompt, it won't work with the shell function > either, so trying this can be useful when debug.
# Tags
# See
- **keyword:** string, stderr, stdout - **property:** hideConsoleWindows, defaultFolder, shellCommand - **command:** launch - **function:** screenName, shell - **control structure:** function - **glossary:** property, error message, return value, handler, execute, OS X, return, file path, debug, Unix, command line