How do I execute a program from Python? os.system fails due to spaces in path
python, shellexecute
Solution
`subprocess.call` will avoid problems with having to deal with quoting conventions of various shells. It accepts a list, rather than a string, so arguments are more easily delimited. i.e.
import subprocess
subprocess.call(['C:\\Temp\\a b c\\Notepad.exe', 'C:\\test.txt'])
Problem
I have a Python script that needs to execute an external program, but for some reason fails. If I have the following script: ``` import os; os.system("C:\\Temp\\a b c\\Notepad.exe"); raw_input(); ``` Then it fails with the following error: 'C:\Temp\a' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. If I escape the program with quotes: ``` import os; os.system('"C:\\Temp\\a b c\\Notepad.exe"'); raw_input(); ``` Then it works. However, if I add a parameter, it stops working again: ``` import os; os.system('"C:\\Temp\\a b c\\Notepad.exe" "C:\\test.txt"'); raw_input(); ``` What is the right way to execute a program and wait for it to complete? I do not need to read output from it, as it is a visual program that does a job and then just exits, but I need to wait for it to complete. Also note, moving the program to a non-spaced path is not an option either. This does not work either: ``` import os; os.system("'C:\\Temp\\a b c\\Notepad.exe'"); raw_input(); ``` Note the swapped single/double quotes. With or without a parameter to Notepad here, it fails with the error message The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.