confusing behaviour of os.system

[Todd]

I'm trying to run the following in python.

os.system('/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file
\"test.c\")" ')

This connects to xemacs with gnuclient and runs htmlize. If I run it
from a shell, xemacs gives me an error, but it generates the html file
just fine. If I run the same statement in python, I get the exact same
behaviour, but there's no file.

I'm not sure what the issue is. I thought maybe it's putting it in
another directory or there might be some permissions problem. Any
ideas? If you want to try it, just make sure to run "M-x
gnuserve-start" first.

[Ben Cartwright]

Re: confusing behaviour of os.system

Todd wrote:[color=blue]
> I'm trying to run the following in python.
>
> os.system('/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file
> \"test.c\")" ')[/color]

Python is interpreting the \"s as "s before it's being passed to
os.system. Try doubling the backslashes.
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")" '[/color][/color][/color]
/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> "test.c")"[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \\"test.c\\") "'[/color][/color][/color]
/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")"

--Ben

[Todd]

Re: confusing behaviour of os.system


Ben Cartwright wrote:[color=blue]
> Todd wrote:[color=green]
> > I'm trying to run the following in python.
> >
> > os.system('/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file
> > \"test.c\")" ')[/color]
>
> Python is interpreting the \"s as "s before it's being passed to
> os.system. Try doubling the backslashes.
>[color=green][color=darkred]
> >>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")" '[/color][/color]
> /usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> "test.c")"[color=green][color=darkred]
> >>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \\"test.c\\") "'[/color][/color]
> /usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")"
>
> --Ben[/color]

Thanks! Yay multiple layers of string interpretation.

[Ben Finney]

Re: confusing behaviour of os.system

"Todd" <goldfita@signa lsguru.net> writes:
[color=blue]
> Ben Cartwright wrote:[color=green][color=darkred]
> > >>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")" '[/color]
> > /usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> "test.c")"[color=darkred]
> > >>> print '/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \\"test.c\\") "'[/color]
> > /usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")"
> >
> > --Ben[/color]
>
> Thanks! Yay multiple layers of string interpretation.[/color]

If it helps, Python has "raw string" syntax that can help alleviate this.
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> print r'/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")" '[/color][/color][/color]
/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")"
[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> filename = "test.c"
>>> cmd_template = r'/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"%s\")"'
>>> command = cmd_template % filename
>>> print command[/color][/color][/color]
/usr/bin/gnuclient -batch -l htmlize -eval "(htmlize-file> \"test.c\")"


--
\ "Everything is futile." -- Marvin of Borg |
`\ |
_o__) |
Ben Finney