Question

How can I make a batch file execute multiple (Python) scripts sequentially, each in their own window, and keep all those windows open upon completion? Right now, my batch is something like:

python script1
start python script2
pause/cmd

But only the parent window stays open.

thanks.

Environment:
Windows XP/Vista

Answer 1

[to] execute multiple (Python) scripts sequentially, each in their own window, and keep all those windows open upon completion

#!/usr/bin/env python
"""Continuation-passing style (CPS) script.

Usage:

   $ python cps.py script1.py arg1 arg2 -- script2.py a b c -- script3.py ...
"""
import platform
import sys
from subprocess import call

if len(sys.argv) < 2:
    sys.exit() # nothing to do

# define a command that starts new terminal
if platform.system() == "Windows":
    new_window_command = "cmd.exe /c start cmd.exe /c".split()
else:  #XXX this can be made more portable
    new_window_command = "x-terminal-emulator -e".split()

# find where script args end
end = sys.argv.index('--') if '--' in sys.argv else len(sys.argv)

# call script; wait while it ends; ignore errors
call([sys.executable] + sys.argv[1:end])

# start new window; call itself; pass the rest; ignore errors
rest = sys.argv[end+1:]
if rest:
    call(new_window_command + [sys.executable, sys.argv[0]] + rest)

print("Press Enter to exit") #NOTE: to avoid raw_input/input py3k shenanigans
sys.stdin.readline()

It supports as many scripts with their arguments as you can supply on the command line.

If you don’t use arguments for scripts; you could simplify the usage:

$ python cps.py script1.py script2.py script3.py

Note: no -- between scripts. You need to modify the code in this case:

• set end = 2
• and rest = sys.argv[end:] (Note: no +1)