Executing Python Scripts in Windows

When attempting to execute a Python script without explicitly including "python" in the command, users may encounter issues due to how Windows associates and invokes the script.

Windows Script Invocation:

Windows identifies the file type extension (.py) and executes scripts based on the associated file type and command.

• File Type Association: Windows associates file extensions with file types. For .py files, the associated file type is typically "Python.File".
• Command Execution: The execution command for "Python.File" is set in the registry. By default, this is "c:\python\python.exe" "%1" %*.

Argument Passing Discrepancy:

When executing a script without "python", the script is launched directly with the default command. However, this command may not include the "%*" placeholder for arguments, causing errors if arguments are provided.

Solutions:

• Set the Registry Key: Edit the relevant registry key (e.g., HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\python26.exe\shell\open\command) to include "%*".
• Set the Environment Variable: Create a PYTHONPATH environment variable that points to the Python executable and execute the script along with the arguments in a single quoted string (e.g., 'PYTHONPATH="%PYTHON_PATH%"; blah.py argument').
• Use a Custom Shortcut: Create a shortcut to the script with a target of "c:\python\python.exe" "c:\path\to\blah.py" %*. This ensures that arguments are passed correctly.