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4

1

Say I want to call some external program using write18, which returns some text to the command line. Can I get that text from inside TeX?

As an example

> inkscape -V

returns the version of the inkscape installation, in my case

Inkscape 0.92.4 (5da689c313, 2019-01-14)

How can I retrieve this information using TeX?

(Note: I am running TeX on Windows, but would like the solution to be system independent.)

tex-core shell-escape command-line

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  input|"inkscape -V" should work.
  
  – egreg
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

1

Say I want to call some external program using write18, which returns some text to the command line. Can I get that text from inside TeX?

As an example

> inkscape -V

returns the version of the inkscape installation, in my case

Inkscape 0.92.4 (5da689c313, 2019-01-14)

How can I retrieve this information using TeX?

(Note: I am running TeX on Windows, but would like the solution to be system independent.)

tex-core shell-escape command-line

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  input|"inkscape -V" should work.
  
  – egreg
  4 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

Say I want to call some external program using write18, which returns some text to the command line. Can I get that text from inside TeX?

As an example

> inkscape -V

returns the version of the inkscape installation, in my case

Inkscape 0.92.4 (5da689c313, 2019-01-14)

How can I retrieve this information using TeX?

(Note: I am running TeX on Windows, but would like the solution to be system independent.)

tex-core shell-escape command-line

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

> inkscape -V

Inkscape 0.92.4 (5da689c313, 2019-01-14)

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

share|improve this question

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

asked 4 hours ago

schtandardschtandard

2,6991121

1 Answer
1

active

oldest

votes

4

You could use input|"inkscape -V" (requires -shell-escape). However, I suggest defining a macro so that you can also manipulate the output:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}



begin{document}



inkscapebanner



end{document}

An example of manipulation:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}

makeatletter

def@getinkscapeversioninfo#1 #2 #3, #4@nil{%

  definkscapeversion{#2}%

  definkscapebuild{#3}%

  definkscaperelease{#4}%

}

expandafter@getinkscapeversioninfoinkscapebanner@nil

makeatother



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

The mandatory expl3 version:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{expl3}



ExplSyntaxOn

tl_new:N inkscapebanner

tl_new:N inkscapeversion

tl_new:N inkscapebuild

tl_new:N inkscaperelease



sys_shell_get:nnN { inkscape~-V } { char_set_catcode_space:n { `~ } } inkscapebanner

seq_set_split:NnV l_tmpa_seq { ~ } inkscapebanner

tl_set:Nx inkscapeversion { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 2 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 3 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { tl_range:Nnn inkscapebuild { 1 } { -1 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscaperelease { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 4 } }



ExplSyntaxOff



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is the fact that input|"inkscape -V" works a TeX feature or a side effect of its implementation? A search through the TeXbook yielded nothing and this isn't really how I thought the pipe command worked either (since a pipe usually directs output from its left to the command to its right). Why does this work?
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard It's a “TeX Live addition” added a few years ago.
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard You can find it with texdoc web2c, section 4.5
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the pointer! (Actually, MiKTeX doesn't find anything when asking texdoc web2c, but the manual is also available online.)
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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4

You could use input|"inkscape -V" (requires -shell-escape). However, I suggest defining a macro so that you can also manipulate the output:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}



begin{document}



inkscapebanner



end{document}

An example of manipulation:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}

makeatletter

def@getinkscapeversioninfo#1 #2 #3, #4@nil{%

  definkscapeversion{#2}%

  definkscapebuild{#3}%

  definkscaperelease{#4}%

}

expandafter@getinkscapeversioninfoinkscapebanner@nil

makeatother



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

The mandatory expl3 version:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{expl3}



ExplSyntaxOn

tl_new:N inkscapebanner

tl_new:N inkscapeversion

tl_new:N inkscapebuild

tl_new:N inkscaperelease



sys_shell_get:nnN { inkscape~-V } { char_set_catcode_space:n { `~ } } inkscapebanner

seq_set_split:NnV l_tmpa_seq { ~ } inkscapebanner

tl_set:Nx inkscapeversion { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 2 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 3 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { tl_range:Nnn inkscapebuild { 1 } { -1 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscaperelease { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 4 } }



ExplSyntaxOff



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is the fact that input|"inkscape -V" works a TeX feature or a side effect of its implementation? A search through the TeXbook yielded nothing and this isn't really how I thought the pipe command worked either (since a pipe usually directs output from its left to the command to its right). Why does this work?
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard It's a “TeX Live addition” added a few years ago.
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard You can find it with texdoc web2c, section 4.5
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the pointer! (Actually, MiKTeX doesn't find anything when asking texdoc web2c, but the manual is also available online.)
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

4

You could use input|"inkscape -V" (requires -shell-escape). However, I suggest defining a macro so that you can also manipulate the output:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}



begin{document}



inkscapebanner



end{document}

An example of manipulation:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}

makeatletter

def@getinkscapeversioninfo#1 #2 #3, #4@nil{%

  definkscapeversion{#2}%

  definkscapebuild{#3}%

  definkscaperelease{#4}%

}

expandafter@getinkscapeversioninfoinkscapebanner@nil

makeatother



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

The mandatory expl3 version:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{expl3}



ExplSyntaxOn

tl_new:N inkscapebanner

tl_new:N inkscapeversion

tl_new:N inkscapebuild

tl_new:N inkscaperelease



sys_shell_get:nnN { inkscape~-V } { char_set_catcode_space:n { `~ } } inkscapebanner

seq_set_split:NnV l_tmpa_seq { ~ } inkscapebanner

tl_set:Nx inkscapeversion { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 2 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 3 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { tl_range:Nnn inkscapebuild { 1 } { -1 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscaperelease { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 4 } }



ExplSyntaxOff



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Is the fact that input|"inkscape -V" works a TeX feature or a side effect of its implementation? A search through the TeXbook yielded nothing and this isn't really how I thought the pipe command worked either (since a pipe usually directs output from its left to the command to its right). Why does this work?
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard It's a “TeX Live addition” added a few years ago.
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @schtandard You can find it with texdoc web2c, section 4.5
  
  – egreg
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Thanks for the pointer! (Actually, MiKTeX doesn't find anything when asking texdoc web2c, but the manual is also available online.)
  
  – schtandard
  3 hours ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You could use input|"inkscape -V" (requires -shell-escape). However, I suggest defining a macro so that you can also manipulate the output:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}



begin{document}



inkscapebanner



end{document}

An example of manipulation:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}

makeatletter

def@getinkscapeversioninfo#1 #2 #3, #4@nil{%

  definkscapeversion{#2}%

  definkscapebuild{#3}%

  definkscaperelease{#4}%

}

expandafter@getinkscapeversioninfoinkscapebanner@nil

makeatother



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

The mandatory expl3 version:

documentclass{article}

usepackage{expl3}



ExplSyntaxOn

tl_new:N inkscapebanner

tl_new:N inkscapeversion

tl_new:N inkscapebuild

tl_new:N inkscaperelease



sys_shell_get:nnN { inkscape~-V } { char_set_catcode_space:n { `~ } } inkscapebanner

seq_set_split:NnV l_tmpa_seq { ~ } inkscapebanner

tl_set:Nx inkscapeversion { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 2 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 3 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { tl_range:Nnn inkscapebuild { 1 } { -1 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscaperelease { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 4 } }



ExplSyntaxOff



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}



begin{document}



inkscapebanner



end{document}

documentclass{article}

usepackage{catchfile}



CatchFileDef{inkscapebanner}{|"inkscape -V"}{}

makeatletter

def@getinkscapeversioninfo#1 #2 #3, #4@nil{%

  definkscapeversion{#2}%

  definkscapebuild{#3}%

  definkscaperelease{#4}%

}

expandafter@getinkscapeversioninfoinkscapebanner@nil

makeatother



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

documentclass{article}

usepackage{expl3}



ExplSyntaxOn

tl_new:N inkscapebanner

tl_new:N inkscapeversion

tl_new:N inkscapebuild

tl_new:N inkscaperelease



sys_shell_get:nnN { inkscape~-V } { char_set_catcode_space:n { `~ } } inkscapebanner

seq_set_split:NnV l_tmpa_seq { ~ } inkscapebanner

tl_set:Nx inkscapeversion { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 2 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 3 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscapebuild { tl_range:Nnn inkscapebuild { 1 } { -1 } }

tl_set:Nx inkscaperelease { seq_item:Nn l_tmpa_seq { 4 } }



ExplSyntaxOff



begin{document}



inkscapebannerpar

inkscapeversionpar

inkscapebuildpar

inkscapereleasepar



end{document}

share|improve this answer

edited 4 hours ago

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274

answered 4 hours ago

egregegreg

742k8919423274