Run a specific batch command in python

Question

What if I want to include a single batch command that isn't already in a file in python?

for instance:

REN *.TXT *.BAT

Could I put that in a python file somehow?

Endoro · Answer 1 · 2013-06-15 07:17:07Z

up vote 1 down vote

try this:

cmd /c ren *.txt *.bat

or

cmd /c "ren *.txt *.bat"

answered Jun 15 at 7:17

Endoro
5,5122415

Sylvain Leroux · Answer 2 · 2013-06-15 09:38:08Z

up vote 1 down vote

The "old school" answer was to use os.system. I'm not familiar with Windows but something like that would do the trick:

import os
os.system('ren *.txt *.bat')

Or (maybe)

import os
os.system('cmd /c ren *.txt *.bat')

But now, as noticed by Ashwini Chaudhary, the "recommended" replacement for os.system is subprocess.call

If REN is a Windows shell internal command:

import subprocess
subprocess.call('ren *.txt *.bat', shell=True)

If it is an external command:

import subprocess
subprocess.call('ren *.txt *.bat')

edited Jun 15 at 9:38

answered Jun 15 at 9:16

Sylvain Leroux
1,1239

	Prefer `subprocess` module for such tasks and this is mentioned in the `os.system`'s docs as well. – Ashwini Chaudhary Jun 15 at 9:21
	@AshwiniChaudhary For "advanced" use (like capturing output) you are right. For basic usage, system does a decent job ;) Anyway, I'm not sure how will behave "subprocess" while invoking internal shell commands. You have to invoke `subprocess.call` with `shell=True`, right? I edit my answer accordingly. Thanks to pointing that out! – Sylvain Leroux Jun 15 at 9:25
	`shell = True` can be dangerous and is not recommended generally, use `shlex.split` : `subprocess.call(shlex.split('ren .txt .bat'))` – Ashwini Chaudhary Jun 15 at 9:30
	@AshwiniChaudhary I agree that `shell=True` could be dangerous when invoking user-provided commands (shell command injection) -- but I don't think we are in that situation here. The "shell command" seems to be provided by the programmer. And (I'm not sure about that) if 'REN' is actually an internal Windows shell command -- you will need a shell. – Sylvain Leroux Jun 15 at 9:34
	`shell = True` doesn't means the command has to be a shell command, it is required when you're passing a single string to `subprocess`. docs.python.org/2/library/… – Ashwini Chaudhary Jun 15 at 9:49

JHG · Answer 3 · 2013-06-15 13:04:34Z

up vote 0 down vote

A example use subprocess for execute a command of Linux from Python:

mime = subprocess.Popen("/usr/bin/file -i " + sys.argv[1], shell=True, stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]

answered Jun 15 at 13:04

JHG
266

AjV Jsy · Answer 4 · 2013-06-15 16:28:57Z

up vote 0 down vote

I created a test.py containing this, and it worked....

from subprocess import Popen    # now we can reference Popen
process = Popen(['cmd.exe','/c ren *.txt *.tx2'])

answered Jun 15 at 16:28

AjV Jsy
1,042128

4 Answers