How to Run a Program in Python.

Question

I am trying to make a script which would run an .exe file from my computer. I think I am using the wrong command. I tried all the other commands like import os, os.startfile, but they aren't working.

Here is my code:

loop=0
while loop==0:
    answer=raw_input("coded by: Narralol\n\n"
    "Pick a task:\n"
    "1) Start Minecraft.exe\n"
    "2) Start Minecraft_Server.jar\n"
    "3) Backup your server\n"
    "4) Copy the backup to your desktop\n"
    "5) Exit\n")
    if answer==1:
        execfile('D:\Games\Minecraft\Minecraft.exe')
    elif answer==2:
        execfile('D:\Games\Minecraft\Minecraft_server.jar')
    elif answer==5:
        loop=1

You can edit the title :). I added the tag py2exe which I assume you are using to do this. — Andy Hayden
– Andy Hayden, Commented Sep 21, 2012 at 21:49

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-21 21:31:57Z

3

Use the subprocess module to run external commands:

import subprocess

    subprocess.call('D:\Games\Minecraft\Minecraft.exe')

answered Sep 21, 2012 at 21:31

Martijn Pieters

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2 Comments

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@JoranBeasley: Even the os.system documentation points to subprocess as the preferable method; for one, the default argument handling method avoids shell injection vulnerabilities.

Joran Beasley Over a year ago

yeah I know ... but he is controlling the input and doesnt need the output ... so in this case I would say os.system would work fine...but subprocess is certainly the "right" way to do it

chown · Accepted Answer · 2012-09-21 21:35:50Z

1

You can use os.system() like so (note: it is usually better to use subprocess for doing things like this):

answer = 0
while answer < 5:
    answer = int(raw_input("coded by: Narralol\n\n"
    "Pick a task:\n"
    "1) Start Minecraft.exe\n"
    "2) Start Minecraft_Server.jar\n"
    "3) Backup your server\n"
    "4) Copy the backup to your desktop\n"
    "5) Exit\n").strip())
    if answer == 1:
        os.system('D:\Games\Minecraft\Minecraft.exe')
    elif answer == 2:
        os.system('D:\Games\Minecraft\Minecraft_server.jar')
    elif answer == 5:
        break

Changed a few other minor things in the code like checking an int against another int (instead of string against an int), etc.

answered Sep 21, 2012 at 21:35

chown

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3 Comments

Narraxus Over a year ago

Yeah, thank you very much, it's working :) I think the problem was that the answer was recognised as a string rather then an int so it wasn't executing the file. It just kept going in loop without doing anything. Maybe that could be the mistake?

chown Over a year ago

That is correct, i.e.: x = "1"; y = 1; x != y; int(x) == y; x == str(y)

Narraxus Over a year ago

Oooooh yes I understand now :). That makes perfect sense!

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