# Using Ant from Ruby **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [June 5, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536 "2006-06-05T17:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536/1 "2006-06-05T17:29:17Z")
Hi I am writing a Ruby script to automate some process. Part of it involves running an ant script ( the java build tool from apache). But, I am finding it difficult to make it work. I tried system(‘ant’) but it didn’t work. It just returned a false. I have checked that ant is there in my system path. Another strange thing is that it works when I provide some input or output redirections. e.g. if I run system(‘ant \> abc.txt’), the command runs. I also tried `ant` but that also didn’t work and returned the following error. Errno::ENOEXEC: Exec format error - ant In this case also `ant < abc.txt` or `ant > abc.txt` works!! I am using Windows 2000 machine and have cygwin and 4nt installed. I am running these commands on irb promt on 4nt. Can anyone please help me in this regard. Thanks and regards Sanchit Misra ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 5:46pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536/2 "2006-06-05T17:46:07Z")
On Monday 05 June 2006 17:27, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > command runs. > > I also tried `ant` but that also didn’t work and returned the > following error. > Errno::ENOEXEC: Exec format error - ant > > In this case also `ant < abc.txt` or `ant > abc.txt` works!! > > I am using Windows 2000 machine and have cygwin and 4nt installed. > I am running these commands on irb promt on 4nt. > Can anyone please help me in this regard. I guess the “ant” command on Windows resolves to an ant.bat or ant.cmd file. Others had similar problems with the “system” method. Try to run: system “ant.bat” or system “ant.cmd” ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536/3 "2006-06-05T17:49:16Z")
maybe you can try: `cmd /c ant` removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid å??é?: ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536/4 "2006-06-05T18:02:32Z")
system “ant.bat” worked!! thanks a lot Sanchit Stefan L. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) 06/05/2006 09:13 PM Please respond to removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid To removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (ruby-talk ML) cc Subject Re: Using Ant from Ruby On Monday 05 June 2006 17:27, removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid wrote: > command runs. > > I also tried `ant` but that also didn’t work and returned the > following error. > Errno::ENOEXEC: Exec format error - ant > > In this case also `ant < abc.txt` or `ant > abc.txt` works!! > > I am using Windows 2000 machine and have cygwin and 4nt installed. > I am running these commands on irb promt on 4nt. > Can anyone please help me in this regard. I guess the “ant” command on Windows resolves to an ant.bat or ant.cmd file. Others had similar problems with the “system” method. Try to run: system “ant.bat” or system “ant.cmd” ---
**Author:** ![unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/u/4bbf92/32.png) [@unknown](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/unknown)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2006, 6:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-ant-from-ruby/95536/5 "2006-06-05T18:06:22Z")
`cmd /c ant` also worked! thanks sanchit ruby-talk ML [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) 06/05/2006 09:22 PM Please respond to removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid To removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid (ruby-talk ML) cc Subject Re: Using Ant from Ruby maybe you can try: `cmd /c ant` removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid å??é?: > Hi > > I am writing a Ruby script to automate some process. Part of it involves > running an ant script ( the java build tool from apache). But, I am > finding it difficult to make it work. > > I tried system(‘ant’) but it didn’t work. It just returned a false. I > have > checked that ant is there in my system path. > Another strange thing is that it works when I provide some input or > output