How do I pass variable command line arguments for a python script, that runs from a batch file?

Question

I want to start my python script from a batch file. It requires four arguments, that are processed in the script through sys.argv[n]. These arguments are paths, that are varying from programme call to programme call. So how do I create a batch file, where you can transfer new arguments for the programme call everytime you run the code? I have learned Python for just one semester and am stuck with this problem.

Initially I have created a batchfile to test whether the code is even trying to be executed. Of course it ran an error due to the arguments missing. Then I tried to pass the arguments through the batchfile, which didn't work and gave me the error like before 'list index out of range':

set 1= path1
set 2= path2
set 3= path3
set 4= path4
"C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.exe" "C:\repo\PythonProgramme.py" %1 %2 %3 %4
pause

I expected the code to run, but as already said, the aguments where not being passed. Can somebody help me fix this issue and maybe give me a hint, what to use for varying arguments (paths)?

Jacques Gaudin · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-01 11:46:22Z

3

You need to surround your variable name with % for it to work. You should read the documentation for set and maybe also this article about batch variables.

In the meantime the following should work.

set var1=path1
set var2=path2
set var3=path3
set var4=path4
"C:\[...]\python.exe" "C:\repo\PythonProgramme.py" %var1% %var2% %var3% %var4%
pause

edited Apr 1, 2019 at 11:46

answered Apr 1, 2019 at 11:18

Jacques Gaudin

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Jani Over a year ago

This also gives me the error 'list index out of range' and th command line looks like this: C:\Users\Administrator\Documents>"C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.exe" "C:\repo\PythonProgramme.py" 234

score 1 · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-01 13:09:56Z

1

The error you get is from your (unknown) python code.

While unusual you can set variable names with just numbers
BUT to reference these vars you need to enclose them in percent signs on both sides %1%
With %1..%4 you reference the command line args passed to the batch itself,
if nothing was passed, there are no args for python to process
spaces around the equal sign in a set become part of the variable name/content.

While variables names starting with a letter are preferable (as Jacques Gaudin suggests +1), you can try:

"C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.exe" ^
    "C:\repo\PythonProgramme.py" %1% %2% %3% %4%

or, if the Path'es set may contain spaces:

"C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\python.exe" ^
    "C:\repo\PythonProgramme.py" "%1%" "%2%" "%3%" "%4%"

edited Apr 1, 2019 at 13:09

answered Apr 1, 2019 at 12:28

user6811411

1 Comment

user6811411 Over a year ago

@JacquesGaudin You are welcme 😉

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