How can I invoke another program (a standalone executable, or an operating system command) from within a C program?
Use the library function system, which does exactly that. Note that system's return value is the command's exit status, and usually has nothing to do with the output of the command. Note also that system accepts a single string representing the command to be invoked; if you need to build up a complex command line, you can use sprintf. See also question 19.30.
References:
K&R1 Sec. 7.9 p. 157
K&R2 Sec. 7.8.4 p. 167, Sec. B6 p. 253
ANSI Sec. 4.10.4.5
ISO Sec. 7.10.4.5
H&S Sec. 19.2 p. 407
PCS Sec. 11 p. 179
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