c# - process.start() arguments

Question

when i do the following command into dos it will work fine

ffmpeg -f image2 -i frame%d.jpg -vcodec mpeg4 -b 800k video.avi

When I try to use the process class in c#, without the arguments, it loads ffmpeg in a console window then dissapears like usual. However, when I try to use the argument as I do above, formatted exactly the same...it doesn't work! ffmpeg still loads, however since the console window closes so fast I cannot determine what the error is :/

Process ffmpeg = new Process();
ffmpeg.StartInfo.FileName = path + "//" + "ffmpeg.exe";
ffmpeg.StartInfo.Arguments = " -f image2 -i frame%d.jpg -vcodec mpeg4 -b 800k video.avi";
ffmpeg.Start();

Any one know why this is? Why would the command work from dos and then fail to work using c# even when the arguments are exactly the same? I've used this method before for many things and never encountered this.

Answer 1

Not really a direct answer, but I'd highly recommend using LINQPad for this kind of "exploratory" C# programming.

I have the following as a saved "query" in LINQPad:

var p = new System.Diagnostics.Process();
p.StartInfo.FileName = "cmd.exe";
p.StartInfo.Arguments = "/c echo Foo && echo Bar";
p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
p.StartInfo.CreateNoWindow = true;
p.Start();
p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd().Dump();

Feel free to adapt as needed.