Windows xcopy is not working in python

Question

When I am doing

xcopy "D:\Accessories\My File\read-me.rtf" "D:\Any Folder\Destn"

It is copying fine

Same thing I am doing in python (2.7)

import os
source = "D:\Accessories\My File\read-me.rtf"
target = "D:\Any Folder\Destn"
output = os.system ("xcopy %s %s" % (source, target))

But this code is throwing error that Invalid number of parameters

Is it a right way to invoke ? Any suggestion ?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 20 '13 at 08:45

5

There are spaces in your "source" and "target" pathnames. Try quoting it in the os.system call ie

output = os.system ("""xcopy "%s" "%s" """ % (source, target))

answered Feb 20 '13 at 08:45

Vorsprung

Let me chk, I was trying with \"%s\" – Reuben Feb 20 '13 at 08:46
In another case I am getting Parse Error. Any idea ? – Reuben Feb 20 '13 at 09:32

1 Answers1