Can't run multiple commands in command prompt using Python

Question

I'm trying to open the Windows command prompt using Python and then execute a few commands. This is the code I am using:

import os

os.system("start /B start cmd.exe @cmd /k cd C:/ & color 04")

Now the command prompt opens and the directory changes to just C:\> but the second command to change the color of the text doesn't work and no errors are produced. When I run cd C:/ & color 04 in the command prompt itself, it works though. So it seems my problem lies with the & sign in cd C:/ & color 4 since the command after the & does not execute.

How can I get this feature to work via my Python code (keep in mind I want the command prompt to be visible to the user)?

Could you use a minimal example of what isn't working the way you expect? E.g., does os.system("date & date") work or not? — innisfree
– innisfree, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 5:45
ok. could you edit your question and add the more minimal example? — innisfree
– innisfree, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 5:49
That's all the code I'm using, I can't make it more minimal than that unfortunately — RedCode
– RedCode, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 5:50
i consider os.system("date & date") more minimal than os.system("start /B start cmd.exe @cmd /k cd C:/ & color 04"). the desired behavior in former case is much more obvious — innisfree
– innisfree, Commented Jun 2, 2017 at 5:52

JosefZ · Accepted Answer · 2017-06-02 17:34:51Z

6

Right syntax for such start command (typed in an open cmd window) is

start "" cmd /k "cd /D C:\ & color 04"

In Python, escape inner " (double quotes) and \ (reverse solidus) as follows:

import os
os.system("start \"\" cmd /k \"cd /D C:\\ & color 04\"")

The backslash (\) character is used to escape characters that otherwise have a special meaning, such as newline, backslash itself, or the quote character.

Read also entire cmd /? and start /? for further explanation.

answered Jun 2, 2017 at 17:34

JosefZ

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