1 files changed, 99 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/Help/command/execute_process.rst b/Help/command/execute_process.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d617243d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Help/command/execute_process.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+execute_process
+---------------
+
+Execute one or more child processes.
+
+.. code-block:: cmake
+
+  execute_process(COMMAND <cmd1> [args1...]]
+                  [COMMAND <cmd2> [args2...] [...]]
+                  [WORKING_DIRECTORY <directory>]
+                  [TIMEOUT <seconds>]
+                  [RESULT_VARIABLE <variable>]
+                  [OUTPUT_VARIABLE <variable>]
+                  [ERROR_VARIABLE <variable>]
+                  [INPUT_FILE <file>]
+                  [OUTPUT_FILE <file>]
+                  [ERROR_FILE <file>]
+                  [OUTPUT_QUIET]
+                  [ERROR_QUIET]
+                  [OUTPUT_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE]
+                  [ERROR_STRIP_TRAILING_WHITESPACE]
+                  [ENCODING <name>])
+
+Runs the given sequence of one or more commands in parallel with the standard
+output of each process piped to the standard input of the next.
+A single standard error pipe is used for all processes.
+
+Options:
+
+``COMMAND``
+ A child process command line.
+
+ CMake executes the child process using operating system APIs directly.
+ All arguments are passed VERBATIM to the child process.
+ No intermediate shell is used, so shell operators such as ``>``
+ are treated as normal arguments.
+ (Use the ``INPUT_*``, ``OUTPUT_*``, and ``ERROR_*`` options to
+ redirect stdin, stdout, and stderr.)
+
+ If a sequential execution of multiple commands is required, use multiple
+ :command:`execute_process` calls with a single ``COMMAND`` argument.
+
+``WORKING_DIRECTORY``
+ The named directory will be set as the current working directory of
+ the child processes.
+
+``TIMEOUT``
+ The child processes will be terminated if they do not finish in the
+ specified number of seconds (fractions are allowed).
+
+``RESULT_VARIABLE``
+ The variable will be set to contain the result of running the processes.
+ This will be an integer return code from the last child or a string
+ describing an error condition.
+
+``OUTPUT_VARIABLE``, ``ERROR_VARIABLE``
+ The variable named will be set with the contents of the standard output
+ and standard error pipes, respectively.  If the same variable is named
+ for both pipes their output will be merged in the order produced.
+
+``INPUT_FILE, OUTPUT_FILE``, ``ERROR_FILE``
+ The file named will be attached to the standard input of the first
+ process, standard output of the last process, or standard error of
+ all processes, respectively.  If the same file is named for both
+ output and error then it will be used for both.
+
+``OUTPUT_QUIET``, ``ERROR_QUIET``
+ The standard output or standard error results will be quietly ignored.
+
+``ENCODING <name>``
+ On Windows, the encoding that is used to decode output from the process.
+ Ignored on other platforms.
+ Valid encoding names are:
+
+ ``NONE``
+   Perform no decoding.  This assumes that the process output is encoded
+   in the same way as CMake's internal encoding (UTF-8).
+   This is the default.
+ ``AUTO``
+   Use the current active console's codepage or if that isn't
+   available then use ANSI.
+ ``ANSI``
+   Use the ANSI codepage.
+ ``OEM``
+   Use the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) code page.
+ ``UTF8``
+   Use the UTF-8 codepage.
+
+If more than one ``OUTPUT_*`` or ``ERROR_*`` option is given for the
+same pipe the precedence is not specified.
+If no ``OUTPUT_*`` or ``ERROR_*`` options are given the output will
+be shared with the corresponding pipes of the CMake process itself.
+
+The :command:`execute_process` command is a newer more powerful version of
+:command:`exec_program`, but the old command has been kept for compatibility.
+Both commands run while CMake is processing the project prior to build
+system generation.  Use :command:`add_custom_target` and
+:command:`add_custom_command` to create custom commands that run at
+build time.