Variable in os.system

Question

I am using os.system method in Python to open a file in Linux. But I don't know how to pass the variable (a) inside the os.system command

import os
a=4
os.system('gedit +a test.txt')

How can i pass the variable as an integer inside the command?

I believe you meant os.system('gedit +{} test.txt'.format(a)) — Abhijit
– Abhijit, Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 17:45

Mike Müller · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-09 17:58:15Z

8

os.system('gedit +%d test.txt' % (a,))

It is recommended to use subprocess instead of os.system:

subprocess.call(['gedit', '+%d' % (a,), 'test.txt'])

answered Dec 9, 2015 at 17:45

Mike Müller

86k21 gold badges174 silver badges165 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

It's good to get in the habit of always using an explicit tuple for the other argument to %: '...' % (a, ).

@chepner Improved. Thanks for nagging. :)

@cherry84 You can accept an answer if it solves your problem.

noel zubin · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-09 17:53:41Z

0

os.system("gedit +" + str(a) + " test.txt")

answered Dec 9, 2015 at 17:48

noel zubin

6809 silver badges11 bronze badges

It gives an error (cannot concatenate 'str' and 'int' objects)

my bad ,All fixed now, You have to cast the integer to a string