Action - Execute Command

The action Execute Command executes a shell command and stores the output in variables.

Examples:

ls -l to list all files in the working directory
ps to store the running processes in the defined variable
ps > file.txt to store the running processes in a file
cat file1.txt > file2.txt to copy a file
cat /proc/wakelocks to show the wake locks preventing your device from sleeping

String variables are replaced before the command is passed to the interpreter.
You can use this for example to create a filename based on the current date: ps > file-{triggertime,datetime,yyyyMMdd}.txt.

Special characters in the command have to be escaped using backslash or placed in quotes as appropriate:
cat 'Test File1.txt' > 'Test File2.txt'
cat Test\ File1.txt > Test\ File2.txt

Settings

Command

Enter the shell command to execute in this field. The command is passed to /bin/sh to be interpreted. The available commands vary from device to device. Variables are supported.

Working Directory

The path the command is executed in. Variables are supported.

Timeout

The timeout for the command.

Variable to store the standard output

The output written by the command to the standard output is stored in the variable defined in this field.

Variable to store the error output

The output written by the command to the error output is stored in the variable defined in this field.

Variable to store the exit code

The exit code of the command is stored in the variable defined in this field.

A variable is a container for a value that can be used in many actions and conditions to dynamically define a part of a text.
See action Script for a description.

Supplied Variables

stdout

the standard output of the command

stderr

the standard error output of the command

exit_code

the exit code of the command