shell_exec with pipes

Hello List! I have tried to get this command working with php for about 2Weeks now, and i would like you to try to get this thing working. This shell command: /usr/local/bin/mplayer -identify -frames 0 /tmp/pitstop.mpeg 2>/dev/null| grep ID_LENGTH | cut -d "=" -f 2 gives me the result "16" back, the LENGHT of the filename. $var=shell_exec("/usr/local/bin/mplayer -identify -frames 0 /tmp/pitstop.mpeg 2>/dev/null| grep ID_LENGTH | cut -d "=" -f 2"); just wont for some reason! $var ist just empty. I was playing around with stderr and stdout and stuff, but i dont know why php wont deal with it as shell does. $var=shell_exec("ls -al"); for examle works just fine! Could someone please give it a try, cause i have spent hours in irc channels and googeling around to get this solved :/ Thanks a LOT!! Mario -- NEU FÜR ALLE - GMX MediaCenter - für Fotos, Musik, Dateien... Fotoalbum, File Sharing, MMS, Multimedia-Gruß, GMX FotoService Jetzt kostenlos anmelden unter http://www.gmx.net +++ GMX - die erste Adresse für Mail, Message, More! +++