os.execute
Lua function os.execute Summary Executes an operating system command Prototype `status = os.execute (command)` Description `Passes 'command' to the operating system shell for execution. Returns a status code.
    status = os.execute ("dir") --> (directory listing whizzes by)
Here is a method of capturing the output to a file, and reading it in:
    -- get a temporary file name
    n = os.tmpname ()

    -- execute a command
    os.execute ("dir > " .. n)

    -- display output
    for line in io.lines (n) do
      print (line)
    end

    -- remove temporary file
    os.remove (n)
` See Also ... Topics Lua base functions Lua bc (big number) functions Lua bit manipulation functions Lua coroutine functions Lua debug functions Lua io functions Lua math functions Lua os functions Lua package functions Lua PCRE regular expression functions Lua script extensions Lua string functions Lua table functions Lua utilities Scripting Lua functions os.clock (Amount of CPU time used) os.date (Formats a date/time string) os.difftime (Calculates a time difference in seconds) os.exit (Attempts to terminate the process) os.getenv (Returns an operating system environment variable) os.remove (Deletes a file) os.rename (Renames a file) os.setlocale (Sets the current locale to the supplied locale) os.time (Returns the current time or calculates the time in seconds from a table) os.tmpname (Returns a name for a temporary file) (Help topic: lua=os.execute) Documentation contents page