Python How to open filepath with spaces when passing through formatter

Question

How can I run a command that requires a filepath that contains spaces when using the start command with os.system

For Example:

# path_d[key] = C:\Users\John\Documents\Some File With Space.exe
path = path_d[key]
os.system("start {0}".format(path))

When I try running it I end up getting an error saying:

Windows cannot find 'C:\Users\John\Documents\Some.'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.

Possible duplicate of os.system to invoke an exe which lies in a dir whose name contains whitespace — rawwar
– rawwar, Commented Jun 14, 2018 at 9:13

rawwar · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-14 09:07:43Z

1

i do the following

path = path_d[key]
os.system(r'start "{0}"'.format(path))

so, surround the path with double quotes. that way it will take care of spaces in path. if there is no default application to open, it might open command prompt. So, if its a text file do the following

os.system(r'notepad "{0}"'.format(path))

edited Jun 14, 2018 at 9:07

answered Jun 14, 2018 at 8:59

rawwar

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8 Comments

tyleax Over a year ago

I tried this and it seemed to result in opening a command prompt with the title as the path name

rawwar Over a year ago

if its an exe, you directly give path to the exe instead of putting start infornt of it

tyleax Over a year ago

I found that os.system(r'start "random title" "{0}"'.format(path)) worked well. MS-DOS 'start' command expects a title for the first argument if you use quotations.

rawwar Over a year ago

@Sam, looks like its already answered at stackoverflow.com/questions/6977215/…

tyleax Over a year ago

It seems the question you linked doesn't include the use of "start" call. I've edited my question to reflect that.

|

Fourier · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-14 09:11:26Z

1

You need to properly escape your special characters in path, which might be easily done as such:

path = r"C:\Users\John\Documents\Some File With Space.exe"

To execute it under Windows:

import os

os.system(r"C:\Users\John\Documents\Some File With Space.exe")

EDIT

per request of OP:

path_dict = {"path1": r"C:\Users\John\Documents\Some File With Space.exe"}
os.system('{}'.format(path_dict["path1"]))

edited Jun 14, 2018 at 9:11

answered Jun 14, 2018 at 8:57

Fourier

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2 Comments

tyleax Over a year ago

How could I make it if the filepath is stored as a dictionary and not hardcoded?

Fourier Over a year ago

@InAFlash I added (edited) the post including the way I execute it and it works fine under python2 on my machine

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