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LYX_EXE = r'"c:\Program Files (x86)\LyX 2.3\bin\LyX2.3.exe"' process = subprocess.Popen(LYX_EXE)

This works - the program loads.

LYX_EXE = r'"c:\Program Files (x86)\LyX 2.3\bin\LyX2.3.exe"' process = subprocess.Popen([LYX_EXE])

This fails: I get "PermissionError: [WinError 5] Access is denied".

What did I do wrong? I need the second call type since I want to use parameters.

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1 Answer 1

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I think in the second call type you have to avoid the quoting (Since it's already in a list, the executable and arguments are already separated):

LYX_EXE = r"c:\Program Files (x86)\LyX 2.3\bin\LyX2.3.exe" process = subprocess.Popen([LYX_EXE])

See also: https://docs.python.org/2/library/subprocess.html#converting-argument-sequence

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To clarify, on Windows an args list gets joined back into a command line, which gets passed to WinAPI CreateProcess. subprocess uses the VC++ argv and WinAPI CommandLineToArgvW rules, which are how most programs consume their command line, with notable exceptions such as the CMD shell.

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