Command Line in R code

Question

Hi all,

Let me start by saying I am new to programming.

I am hoping to run a python script from the command line within an R script. I am running windows xp but also have a machine that runs Windows 7. I can run the following code without error for the dos-prompt.

cd C:\Documents and Settings\USER\workspace\UGA - Website
python test1.py

I have tried all sorts of different attempts in R using ?system, but am hoping someone can point me to what I am doing wrong. For example, here is just one attempt (it was recommended to use absolute paths)

cmd.1 <- shQuote("C:Python26/python.exe C:/Documents and Settings/USER/Desktop/UGA New Website", type="cmd")
system(cmd.1)

Any guidance will be very much appreciated

Answer 1

Add a / after C:, which would make it look like this:

cmd.1 <- shQuote("C:Python26/python.exe C:/Documents and Settings/USER/Desktop/UGA New Website", type="cmd")
system(cmd.1)

Answer 2

Not tested but try this:

cmd.1 <- shQuote('C:\\Python26\\python.exe "C:\\Documents and Settings\\USER\\Desktop\\UGA New Website"', type="cmd")
system(cmd.1)

If this doesn't work, try variations on \, \\ and /, and where you put your quotes.

You could also try a system cd command to change the directory, so you don't need an absolute path.

Answer 3

Thanks for the help everyone. My issue was a combination of things, but this chunk of code worked.

shell(paste("python", shQuote("C:\\Documents and Settings\\USER\\Desktop\\UGA New Website\\metrics_get.py")))

Many thanks