BUG: You receive a "The name specified is not recognized" error message when you try to run a batch file tool from the Visual C++ Tools menu on a computer that is running Windows NT or Windows 2000 (191495)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 5.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Enterprise Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 5.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Professional Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Learning Edition 6.0, when used with:
    • the operating system: Microsoft Windows NT
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
This article was previously published under Q191495

SYMPTOMS

On Windows NT and Windows 2000, running a batch file tool from the Visual C++ Tools menu produces the following error message:
The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file
On the Tools menu, click Customize. Select the Tools tab on the Customize dialog box. Note that the arguments contain one or more parameters surrounded with quote (") characters.

This problem did not occur prior to installing a service pack for Visual Studio 97.

CAUSE

Visual Studio 97 Service Pack 1 modified the method used to launch tools. Because Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition (Me), Windows NT, and Windows 2000 support long file names (LFNs) that can contain spaces, the tool launcher now automatically adds quotes around Tool commands. If the tool command is a batch file, it then launches the command processor--Cmd.exe on Windows NT--with the quoted command and any arguments:

CMD.EXE /c "<command>" <arguments>

If a tool parameter might contain an LFN, you must place quotes around the argument: for example, "$(FileName)$(FileExt)". The resulting command launched from Visual C++ would look something like this:

CMD.EXE /c "mytool.cmd" "my LFN parameter"

The parameter parsing logic in CMD.EXE strips the first quote and the last, preserving those in the interior. It then attempts to load the following:

mytool.cmd"

That file name does not exist.

RESOLUTION

Following are some possible workarounds:

  • Use Cmd.exe as the command. In the argument field, type /C, the batch file name, and the arguments:

    Command: CMD.EXE
    Arguments: /C mytool.bat "my LFN parameter"

    If the tool resides in an LFN path with a space, place quotes around it and also around the entire parameter string after the /C:

    Arguments: /C ""my LFN path\mytool.bat" "my LFN parameter""

  • Do not put quotes in the tool's Arguments field.
  • Use an .exe file as the tool command rather than a batch file. The executable could launch an appropriate batch file with the arguments properly formatted.

    NOTE: Visual Studio 6.0 solves the typical case by placing quotes around tools that have a space in their path. However, a problem can still occur if the tool meets this condition and also has quotes around any argument.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a bug in the Microsoft products listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

If Cmd.exe has a /C or /K switch, it processes the remaining command line after the switch as a command. The following logic is used to process quote (") characters:

If all of the following conditions are met, then quote characters on the command line are kept:

  • No /S switch
  • Exactly two quote characters
  • No special characters between the two quote characters, where special is one of: &<>()@^|
  • One or more whitespace characters between the two quote characters
  • String between the two quote characters is the name of an executable file
Otherwise, if the first character is a quote, strip it and remove the last quote character on the command line as well. Any text after the last quote character is kept.

Steps to Reproduce Behavior

Use the following steps on a Windows NT workstation or server:

  1. Create a simple batch file, Badquote.bat, containing one line:
          echo %1
  2. Open a CMD window that has Badquote.bat in its path. Here, C:\ is assumed for the path. Type the following commands to verify its operation:

    C:>badquote "hello, world"
    Output: "hello, world"

    C:>"badquote" "hello, world"
    Output: "hello, world"

    C:>CMD /c badquote "hello, world"
    Output: "hello, world"

  3. At the command prompt, type the following:

    C:>CMD /c "badquote" "hello, world"
    Output: The name specified is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
    Note the problem with CMD's parameter parsing.

    C:>CMD /c ""badquote" "hello, world""
    Output: "hello, world"
    Note the workaround for proper parameter parsing.

  4. From the Tools menu, click Customize and Tool. Create an entry named "Test LFNs":

    Command: badquote
    Arguments: "$(FileName)"
    Don't forget the quotes. Keep 'Close window on exiting' unchecked.

  5. Open a file. Make it the active window.
  6. Click Tools, Test LFNs. The output will be as in step 3 above.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/3/2005
Keywords:kbtshoot kbBug kberrmsg kbide kbpending KB191495 kbAudDeveloper
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