R BATCH jobs from Python

[Tim Churches]

Benjamin Scott wrote:
> hello,
> 
> i have been attempting to run BATCH jobs on WinXP/Server2003 using
> Python.  It seems that my questions are similar to those of a previous
> OPs.  Unfortunately, what seemed like a simple question/request either
> digressed or was misinterpreted to the tune of 19 posts:
> 
> Author: Moosebumps
> Subject (1): Batch commands on Windows
> Subject (2): os.system always opens new window on Windows XP/2000
> 
> here is the operation that works, but isn't actually carried out in
> Python:
> 
> Start->Run "cmd" ***command line appears***
> 
> then i enter the following commands (i copied and pasted the whole
> session so that you can see exactly what i did):
> ******************************************************
> Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
> (C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
> 
> C:\Documents and Settings\BRdir>cd c:\Applications\R\rw1091\bin
> 
> C:\Applications\R\rw1091\bin>Rcmd BATCH c:\test.txt
> 
> C:\Applications\R\rw1091\bin>
> ******************************************************
> 
> now, the whole point here is to send the following R script to the
> program  c:\Applications\R\rw1091\bin\Rcmd.exe, i.e. the file cited as
> "c:\test.txt" contains the following code:
> 
> ********************************************************
> library(lattice)
> x<-read.csv('C:\\Data\\EData\\eFile.txt')
> a<-as.matrix(x[,1])
> b<-as.matrix(x[,2])
> c<-as.matrix(x[,3])
> X11()
> levelplot(c~a*b)
> savePlot(filename='c:\\test2',type='jpeg')
> ********************************************************
> 
> now, the procedure i have just outlined works absolutely perfect.  i
> have spent some time trying to do this from Python; this includes
> looking at posts and references from everywhere i was able to find
> them.  i still can't run an analogous procedure from python.  i have
> attempted to use os.system, the popen family.  i feel like part of the
> issue is that i can't find enough simple examples on how to use these
> tools.

Have you considered RPy, which embeds R in Python? See http://rpy.sf.net

Tim C