running python on xp command prompt

[TPhung@lbl.gov]

Hi,

I have a simple question about running python on windows xp command
prompt. The file is as follows and is named spam.py:

print 2**8
print 'the bright side' + 'of life'
print "hello world"

I run this on the command prompt as follows

C:\Documents and Settings\User>p ython C:\Documents and Settings\User
\Desktop\spa
m.py
python: can't open file 'C:\Documents': [Errno 2] No such file or
directory

and get the error above. If I surround the second directory in quotes
like this

C:\Documents and Settings\User>p ython "C:\Documen ts and Settings\User
\Desktop\spa
m.py"

, there is no error. Does anyone know why this is.

Thank you

[Steve Potter]

Re: running python on xp command prompt

On Mar 17, 2:15 pm, TPh...@lbl.gov wrote:

Hi,
>
I have a simple question about running python on windows xp command
prompt. The file is as follows and is named spam.py:
>
print 2**8
print 'the bright side' + 'of life'
print "hello world"
>
I run this on the command prompt as follows
>
C:\Documents and Settings\User>p ython C:\Documents and Settings\User
\Desktop\spa
m.py
python: can't open file 'C:\Documents': [Errno 2] No such file or
directory
>
and get the error above. If I surround the second directory in quotes
like this
>
C:\Documents and Settings\User>p ython "C:\Documen ts and Settings\User
\Desktop\spa
m.py"
>
, there is no error. Does anyone know why this is.
>
Thank you

It is because of the spaces in the path. The command prompt assumes
that when it encounters a space that is the end of the attribute. By
surrounding it in quotes you are indicating that it is all one
attribute.


Steve