How can i fix the syntax?

Question

I don't know how to fix the syntax

import os, sys, subprocess

subprocess.call("grep -o 'tag[^"]*' test > update", shell=True)

    subprocess.call("grep -o 'tag[^"]*' test > update", shell=True)
                                    ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

I tried using os.system as well but i get the same error

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BoppreH · Accepted Answer · 2023-04-24T19:05:51.687

Python strings are delimited by quotes, in your case the double quote that starts "grep -o .... But there's also a double quote inside 'tag[^"]*:

subprocess.call("grep -o 'tag[^"]*' test > update", shell=True)
#                             ~^~

So Python sees this as

                "grep -o 'tag[^"
subprocess.call(                ]*' test > update", shell=True)

Which is invalid syntax. You need to escape the double quotes by putting \ before it:

subprocess.call("grep -o 'tag[^\"]*' test > update", shell=True)
#                              ^ Added this

or use a different pair of quotes, like triple ':

subprocess.call('''grep -o 'tag[^\"]*' test > update''', shell=True)
#               ^^^              changed these      ^^^

1 Answers1