os.system command to call shell script with arguments

Question

I am writing a python script which uses os.system command to call a shell script.I need help understanding how I can pass the arguments to the shell script? Below is what I am trying..but it wouldn't work.

os.system('./script.sh arg1 arg2 arg3')

I do not want to use subprocess for calling the shell script. Any help is appreciated.

Also, when you say it doesn't work, how do you know it's not working? Is there an error message? — SethMMorton, Aug 28 '13 at 22:39

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 29 '13 at 01:06

1

Place your script and it's args into a string, see example below.

HTH

#!/usr/bin/env python

import os

arg3 = 'arg3'
cmd = '/bin/echo arg1 arg2 %s' % arg3

print 'running "%s"' % cmd

os.system(cmd)

answered Aug 29 '13 at 01:06

gbp

46
2

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 29 '13 at 00:14

If you insert the following line before os.system (...), you will likely see your problem.

print './script.sh arg1 arg2 arg3'

When developing this type of thing, it usually is useful to make sure the command really is what you expect, before you actually try it.

example:

def Cmd():
    return "something"

print Cmd()

when you are satisfied, comment out the print Cmd() line and use os.system (Cmd ()) or subprocess version.

os.system command to call shell script with arguments

2 Answers2