Run a .bat file using python code

Question

I try to run a .bat file in Windows using Python script.

ask.bat file:

Application.exe work.xml

I write Python code :

import os
os.system("D:\xxx1\xxx2XMLnew\otr.bat ")

Output: when try to run the file its just give a blink of the command prompt, and the work is not performing.

Note: I try with alternate slash also , but it is not working.

And I also want to save output of the file in another file.

Can anyone suggest how can I make the script runnable.

Did you try escaping the backslash? Try: `os.system("D:\\xxx1\\xxx2XMLnew\\otr.bat ")` — inspectorG4dget, Mar 29 '11 at 07:58
You just need to add a r before the quote: r"D:\\xxx1\\xxx2XMLnew\\otr.bat " Try: `import os` `os.system(r"D:\xxx1\xxx2XMLnew\otr.bat ")` — Md Fantacher Islam, Oct 22 '22 at 18:03

score 53 · Answer 1 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

53

This has already been answered in detail on SO. Check out this thread, It should answer all your questions: Executing a subprocess fails

I've tried it myself with this code:

batchtest.py

from subprocess import Popen
p = Popen("batch.bat", cwd=r"C:\Path\to\batchfolder")
stdout, stderr = p.communicate()

batch.bat

echo Hello World!
pause

I've got the batchtest.py example from the aforementioned thread.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:54

Community

1
1

answered Mar 29 '11 at 07:49

das_weezul

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Hi das_weezul, Thanks for the info., i try what is mentioned there but for me the same problem persists, on executing,a blink of the app. is coming then went out, no work perform – Silver Mar 29 '11 at 08:32
while running this code i came around an error:" Windows Error 2: The system cannot find the file specified", but the file path is correct 100% i switch the folder location to test what u said.... code is from subprocess import Popen p = Popen("test.bat", cwd=r"C:\XMLnew") stdout, stderr = p.communicate() – Silver Mar 29 '11 at 09:26
4

@Silver: `Popen()` can't find the `test.bat` file. In the [docs](http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess.html?highlight=popen#subprocess.Popen) it says "If *cwd* is not `None`, the child’s current directory will be changed to *cwd* before it is executed. Note that this directory is not considered when searching the executable, so you **can’t** specify the program’s path relative to *cwd*." – martineau Mar 29 '11 at 12:00
1

@martineau He used the path "C:\XMLnew" which is absolute, so that shouldn't be the problem – das_weezul Mar 29 '11 at 12:08
1

@das_weezul: Yes, but the `"test.bat"` is relative. – martineau Mar 29 '11 at 12:22
Can you not just call the content of the batch file from subprocess.Popen, it seems like a unessisary step – Jakob Bowyer Mar 29 '11 at 14:36
How would you go about passing an argument to the batch file in this format? – Tyler Shellberg Nov 26 '21 at 04:21
Agreed it's a bit of an annoyance setting the absolute `cwd` AND the path to the bat file. I suggest storing the path in a variable then re-using that variable within the code. `from subprocess import Popen dir = fr'C:\path\bat_file_folder' p = Popen(fr"{dir}\test_bat.bat", cwd=dir) stdout, stderr = p.communicate()` – Theo F Jun 06 '23 at 15:29

score 34 · Answer 2 · edited Feb 22 '13 at 21:31

34

import subprocess

filepath="D:/path/to/batch/myBatch.bat"
p = subprocess.Popen(filepath, shell=True, stdout = subprocess.PIPE)

stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
print p.returncode # is 0 if success

edited Feb 22 '13 at 21:31

Community

1
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answered Dec 10 '12 at 15:05

3

`shell=True` is what allows you to run a .bat file instead of an .exe. – Bob Stein May 05 '17 at 21:56
1

@BobStein-VisiBone no, it's not. You can call a .bat file from Popen without passing shell=True, but as martineau noted in the answer above, you _must_ specify the absolute path to the .bat file. – Nathan Aug 24 '17 at 15:19

score 16 · Answer 3 · edited Oct 26 '12 at 06:15

16

Replace \ with / in the path

import os
os.system("D:/xxx1/xxx2XMLnew/otr.bat ")

edited Oct 26 '12 at 06:15

Jason Sturges

15,855
14
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answered Jan 06 '12 at 17:13

raghuram

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2

i recommend using os.path.normpath filepath="D:/xxx1/xxx2XML/otr.bat" p = Popen(filepath, shell=True, stdout = subprocess.PIPE) stdout, stderr = p.communicate() print process.returncode # is 0 if success – Dec 10 '12 at 15:03

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 23 '17 at 13:57

6

Probably the simplest way to do this is ->

import os
os.chdir("X:\Enter location of .bat file")
os.startfile("ask.bat")

answered Nov 23 '17 at 13:57

outcast_dreamer

143
2
7

Not sure about other operating systems, but works on windows :) – outcast_dreamer Nov 23 '17 at 13:58

tav · Answer 5 · 2016-03-09T02:28:38.413

It is better to write .bat file in such way that its running is not dependent on current working directory, i.e. I recommend to put this line at the beginning of .bat file:
```
cd "%~dp0"
```

Enclose filepath of .bat file in double quotes, i.e.:

os.system('"D:\\x\\so here can be spaces\\otr.bat" ["<arg0>" ["<arg1>" ...]]')

To save output of some batch command in another file you can use usual redirection syntax, for example:
```
os.system('"...bat" > outputfilename.txt')
```
Or directly in your .bat file:
```
Application.exe work.xml > outputfilename.txt
```

score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 18 '18 at 08:31

4

You are just missing to make it raw. The issue is with "\". Adding r before the path would do the work :)

import os
os.system(r"D:\xxx1\xxx2XMLnew\otr.bat")

answered Sep 18 '18 at 08:31

Prayson W. Daniel

14,191
4
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score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Nov 07 '18 at 08:55

2

So I do in Windows 10 and Python 3.7.1 (tested):

import subprocess
Quellpfad = r"C:\Users\MeMySelfAndI\Desktop"
Quelldatei = r"\a.bat"
Quelle = Quellpfad + Quelldatei
print(Quelle)
subprocess.call(Quelle)

answered Nov 07 '18 at 08:55

merlinuwe

191
3
10

Neo · Answer 8 · 2018-05-07T05:48:52.573

python_test.py

import subprocess
a = subprocess.check_output("batch_1.bat")
print a

This gives output from batch file to be print on the python IDLE/running console. So in batch file you can echo the result in each step to debug the issue. This is also useful in automation when there is an error happening in the batch call, to understand and locate the error easily.(put "echo off" in batch file beginning to avoid printing everything)

batch_1.bat

echo off    
echo "Hello World" 
md newdir 
echo "made new directory"

score 0 · Answer 9 · edited Jun 17 '13 at 15:33

0

If you are trying to call another exe file inside the bat-file. You must use SET Path inside the bat-file that you are calling. set Path should point into the directory there the exe-file is located:

set PATH=C:\;C:\DOS     {Sets C:\;C:\DOS as the current search path.}

edited Jun 17 '13 at 15:33

stefan

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answered Jun 17 '13 at 15:13

user2493936

1

score 0 · Answer 10 · answered Jun 22 '23 at 21:35

If your .bat file is in same directory:

import os
os.startfile("filename.bat")

You can also run Multiple .bat files parallelly this way

os.startfile("filename.bat")
os.startfile("filename2.bat")

--
If you want to change directory before running .bat file, run this command:

os.chdir("X:\directory_inwhich_the_code_will_run")

Run a .bat file using python code

10 Answers10

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