calling std::system with parameter containing space in double quotes

I need to call a linux std::system call with parameter than contain string with spaces. In order to process it correctly using argc / argv I want to pass it with double quotes.

std::string cmdline = “myprogram -d “I am a sting”” ;

if I cout this string I get good results.

When I send it to std::system(cmdline) and look at ps -ef I get myprogram -d I am a string

How can I keep “I am a string” as a single parameter for myprogram ?

Answer

No problem:

dlaru@IKH-LAPTOP /cygdrive/c/Users/dlaru
$ cat test.cpp
#include <iostream>
#include <string>
#include <cstdlib>
int main()
{
        std::string cmdline = "./see "I am a string"";
        std::cout << cmdline << std::endl;
        std::system(cmdline.c_str());
}

dlaru@IKH-LAPTOP /cygdrive/c/Users/dlaru
$ cat see.cpp
#include <iostream>
int main(int argc, char* argv[])
{
        for (int i = 0; i < argc; ++i)
        {
                std::cout << argv[i] << std::endl;
        }
}

dlaru@IKH-LAPTOP /cygdrive/c/Users/dlaru
$ g++ -std=c++11 test.cpp -o test

dlaru@IKH-LAPTOP /cygdrive/c/Users/dlaru
$ g++ -std=c++11 see.cpp -o see

dlaru@IKH-LAPTOP /cygdrive/c/Users/dlaru
$ ./test
./see "I am a string"
./see
I am a string

(tested in Cygwin)