run exe with parameters in PowerShell

Question

Why are the arguments being ignored? The command ($re) is executed but none of the arguments are apparently supplied.

$re = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Y\RM 2010\RM.exe"
$arg1 = ' /W:"cross"'
$arg2 = ' /P:"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep"'
$arg3 = ' /U /S'

& $re $arg1 $arg2 $arg3

Answer 1

Try this

$re = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Y\RM 2010\RM.exe"
$arg1 = '/W:\"cross\"'
$arg2 = '/P:\"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep\"'
$arg3 = '/U'
$arg4 = '/S'
& $re $arg1 $arg2 $arg3 $arg4

To get the " marks included in arg1 & arg2, they had to be escaped \".

Don't know if the leading spaces on the parameters might of confused RM.EXE, but they should not be required.

Also, I split the /U /S as these look like separate parameters.

After running the above through ECHOARGS.EXE, the output is as follows:

Arg 0 is </W:"cross">
Arg 1 is </P:"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep">
Arg 2 is </U>
Arg 3 is </S>

Command line:
"H:\temp\EchoArgs.exe"  /W:\"cross\" /P:\"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep\" /U /S

Finally, if you are running PowerShell 3 (as per the tag), you should be able to make use of --%. This will force PowerShell send the remainder of the command line 'as-is'. e.g.

& $re --% /W:"cross" /P:"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep" /U /S

Can still do is in PS 1 or 2 by using the following form:

& $re /W:\`"cross\`" /P:\`"C:\Users\P\Documents\RM\RM.rep\`" /U /S