# No such file when using backticks for running external program
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264
**Category:** General Usage
**Tags:** shell
**Created:** [February 15, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264 "2024-02-15T16:15:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@HenriDeh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/HenriDeh)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/1 "2024-02-15T16:15:13Z")
Hello,
I’m sorry to bother with such a seemingly trivial problem but I’m stuck with a stupid problem. I have a simple file that I’d like to read.
```julia
open(path) do f
readdlm(f,header=true)[1]
end
```
where `path` contains the absolute path to the file. This command works perfectly fine as the matrix contained in the file is correctly returned.
However, if I use the same path to call `cat`, then it pretends the file is non-existent.
```julia
julia> `cat $path`
`cat 'C:\Users\dehaybe\OneDrive - UCL\Doctorat\julia\BalancedMinimumEvolution\data\01-Primates12.txt'`
julia> run(`cat $path`)
ERROR: IOError: could not spawn `cat 'C:\Users\dehaybe\OneDrive - UCL\Doctorat\julia\BalancedMinimumEvolution\data\01-Primates12.txt'`: no such file or directory (ENOENT)
Stacktrace:
[1] _spawn_primitive(file::String, cmd::Cmd, stdio::Vector{Union{RawFD, Base.Libc.WindowsRawSocket, IO}})
@ Base .\process.jl:128
[2] #784
@ .\process.jl:139 [inlined]
[3] setup_stdios(f::Base.var"#784#785"{Cmd}, stdios::Vector{Union{RawFD, Base.Libc.WindowsRawSocket, IO}})
@ Base .\process.jl:223
[4] _spawn
@ .\process.jl:138 [inlined]
[5] run(::Cmd; wait::Bool)
@ Base .\process.jl:479
[6] run(::Cmd)
@ Base .\process.jl:477
[7] top-level scope
@ REPL[47]:1
```
So, how is this possible ?
---
### Author:  [@PetrKryslUCSD](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/PetrKryslUCSD)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 4:27pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/2 "2024-02-15T16:27:31Z")
Are you sure there is such a command on Windows?
---
### Author:  [@tbeason](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/tbeason)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/3 "2024-02-15T16:39:02Z")
It works for me in the Windows Terminal but can’t get it to work in `run` either, so perhaps the Windows Terminal does something fancy? But Julia is running in the Windows Terminal, so shouldn’t that be where this command is being sent?
---
### Author:  [@PetrKryslUCSD](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/PetrKryslUCSD)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 4:50pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/4 "2024-02-15T16:50:35Z")
`cat` is available in the power shell, but not in `cmd`. So make sure you are running julia from the power shell.
Edit: @kristoffer.carlsson is right, `cat` is a commandlet in powershell, and it probably worked for me only because I run julia from bash.
---
### Author:  [@kristoffer.carlsson](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/kristoffer.carlsson)
#### Post date: [February 15, 2024, 4:59pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/5 "2024-02-15T16:59:41Z")
> [@PetrKryslUCSD](#):
>
> So make sure you are running julia from the power shell.
That is not how Julia commands work. `run` invokes an executable, they do not run through any shell.
This is a good talk about it
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XHSQ3925dc)
---
### Author:  [@HenriDeh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/HenriDeh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:23am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/6 "2024-02-16T09:23:10Z")
Thank you but really cat is an MWE. In practice, I have this problem with an `ExecutableProduct` that I obtain from a jll package.
If `foo` is the product, I have that
```julia
open(path) do f
readdlm(f,header=true)[1]
end
```
works (so the path is correct).
```julia
run(`$(foo()) -h`)
```
works (so the ExecutableProduct works).
But
```julia
run(`$(foo()) --input $path`)
```
does not. So I’m guessing the problem is with `path`, when interpolated in a `Cmd`.
---
### Author:  [@GunnarFarneback](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/GunnarFarneback)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:28am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/7 "2024-02-16T09:28:47Z")
What is the exact error you get with your real code?
---
### Author:  [@HenriDeh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/HenriDeh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:37am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/8 "2024-02-16T09:37:17Z")
```julia
function fastme_test()
run(`$(fastme()) $("-i data/01-Primates12.txt")`)
end
```
```julia
julia> fastme_test()
. Error: -i option: ' data\01-Primates12.txt' file does not exist.
ERROR: failed process: Process(setenv(`'C:\Users\Henri\.julia\artifacts\a68fec90869961d649fa73d3871638e4acbb44b5\bin\fastme.exe' '-i data\01-Primates12.txt'`,["WINDIR=C:\\WINDOWS", "PATH=C:\\Users\\Henri\\.julia\\juliaup\\julia-1.10.0+0.x64.w64.mingw32\\bin;C:\\Users\\Henri\\.julia\\juliaup\\julia-1.10.0+0.x64.w64.mingw32\\bin\\..\\lib\\julia;C:\\Users\\Henri\\.julia\\juliaup\\julia-1.10.0+0.x64.w64.mingw32\\bin\\..\\lib;C:\\Users\\Henri\\.julia\\juliaup\\julia-1.10.0+0.x64.w64.mingw32\\bin;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\gurobi1100\\win64\\bin;C:\\xpressmp\\bin;C:\\xpressmp\\workbench;C:\\Program Files\\xpressmp\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\xpressmp\\workbench;C:\\Program Files\\xpress\\bin;C:\\Program Files\\xpress\\workbench;C:\\Windows\\system32;C:\\Windows;C:\\Windows\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\Windows\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\Windows\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\NVIDIA Corporation\\PhysX\\Common;C:\\Program Files (x86)\\ZeroTier\\One\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Program Files\\NVIDIA Corporation\\NVIDIA NvDLISR;C:\\Program Files\\dotnet\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\system32;C:\\WINDOWS;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\Wbem;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\WindowsPowerShell\\v1.0\\;C:\\WINDOWS\\System32\\OpenSSH\\;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\GitHubDesktop\\bin;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\bin;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\MiKTeX\\miktex\\bin\\x64\\;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\gitkraken\\bin;C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps", "USERDOMAIN_ROAMINGPROFILE=DESKTOP-BI15UF5", "KEYSHOT_EXTERNAL_LICENSE_FOLDER=C:\\Program Files\\DesignSpark\\DesignSpark Mechanical 5.0\\", "LOCALAPPDATA=C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local", "HOMEPATH=\\Users\\Henri", "PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=AMD64 Family 25 Model 33 Stepping 0, AuthenticAMD", "NUMBER_OF_PROCESSORS=24", "GIT_ASKPASS=c:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Programs\\Microsoft VS Code\\resources\\app\\extensions\\git\\dist\\askpass.sh", "ANS_OLD_ATTACH=1" … "PROCESSOR_LEVEL=25", "SYSTEMDRIVE=C:", "=C:=C:\\Users\\Henri\\OneDrive - UCL\\Doctorat\\julia\\BalancedMinimumEvolution", "FPS_BROWSER_APP_PROFILE_STRING=Internet Explorer", "PROGRAMW6432=C:\\Program Files", "TEMP=C:\\Users\\Henri\\AppData\\Local\\Temp", "HOMEDRIVE=C:", "OPENBLAS_MAIN_FREE=1", "PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=AMD64", "COLORTERM=truecolor"]), ProcessExited(1)) [1]
Stacktrace:
[1] pipeline_error
@ Base .\process.jl:565 [inlined]
[2] run(::Cmd; wait::Bool)
@ Base .\process.jl:480
[3] run
@ .\process.jl:477 [inlined]
[4] fastme_test()
@ Main c:\Users\Henri\OneDrive - UCL\Doctorat\julia\BalancedMinimumEvolution\src\fastme.jl:5
[5] top-level scope
@ REPL[3]:1
```
but the file does exist:
```julia
julia> open("data/01-Primates12.txt") do f
D = readdlm(f, header = true)[1]
end
12×12 Matrix{Float64}:
...
```
---
### Author:  [@sijo](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/sijo)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:40am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/9 "2024-02-16T09:40:27Z")
> [@HenriDeh](#):
>
> `run(`$(fastme()) $("-i data/01-Primates12.txt")`)`
This is wrong, it forces `-i filename` to be a single string. This means the executable will receive it as a single argument while it expects a `-i` argument followed by a `filename` argument. Try this instead:
```julia
run(`$(fastme()) -i data/01-Primates12.txt`)
```
---
### Author:  [@HenriDeh](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/HenriDeh)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:44am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/10 "2024-02-16T09:44:21Z")
Ha thanks, it works. I think I was mislead by some documentation I misunderstood.
---
### Author:  [@GunnarFarneback](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/GunnarFarneback)
#### Post date: [February 16, 2024, 9:50am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/no-such-file-when-using-backticks-for-running-external-program/110264/11 "2024-02-16T09:50:00Z")
A good thing to remember is that if you get a _different_ error with an MWE, it’s often not representative of your real problem.