How to run msvc link.exe from cmd line or system with spaces in library path?

Question

I am trying to run msvc linker (link.exe) from C++ using system(). However, the library path I specify in /libpath: has spaces.

I just read here that:

"On the command line, an option consists of an option specifier, either a dash (-) or a forward slash (/), followed by the name of the option. Option names cannot be abbreviated. Some options take an argument, specified after a colon (:). No spaces or tabs are allowed within an option specification, except within a quoted string in the /COMMENT option."

So it seems it's not possible to have spaces. Did I misunderstood something? If not, what would be the best way to work around this?

Just fyi, I tried a few workarounds like putting quotes around a path or even triple quotes but it didn't work. Something like this:

"path-to-link/link.exe" /out:test.exe test.obj msvcrt.lib /libpath:"""path-to-libs""" /subsystem:console /entry:main

or

"path-to-link/link.exe" /out:test.exe test.obj msvcrt.lib /libpath:"path-to-libs" /subsystem:console /entry:main

If I posted this on a wrong place, feel free to suggest a more appropriate place.

Answer 1

Hi, @Mate

You could use \" instead of ".

\" space path \"

\"C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Preview/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.37.32705/bin/Hostx64/x64/link.exe\"

Since there is one space between link.exe and /out, you need to add another pair of \".

" \" \"(space) link.exe \" (space) /out:test.exe \" "

E.g.

#include <cstdlib>

int main() {
    const char* command = "\"\"C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Preview/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.37.32705/bin/Hostx64/x64/link.exe\" /out:test.exe \"XXX/ConsoleApplication1.obj\" \"/libpath:C:/Program Files/Microsoft Visual Studio/2022/Preview/VC/Tools/MSVC/14.37.32705/lib/x64\" \"/libpath:C:/Program Files (x86)/Windows Kits/10/Lib/10.0.22000.0/um/x64\" \"/libpath:C:/Program Files (x86)/Windows Kits/10/Lib/10.0.22000.0/ucrt/x64\" \" ";

    int result = system(command);
    system("test.exe");
    return 0;
}

Best regards,

Minxin Yu

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