running python on xp command prompt

[Steve Potter]

On Mar 17, 2:15 pm, TPh... at lbl.gov wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a simple question about running python on windows xp command
> prompt. The file is as follows and is named spam.py:
>
> print 2**8
> print 'the bright side' + 'of life'
> print "hello world"
>
> I run this on the command prompt as follows
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\User>python C:\Documents and Settings\User
> \Desktop\spa
> m.py
> python: can't open file 'C:\Documents': [Errno 2] No such file or
> directory
>
> and get the error above. If I surround the second directory in quotes
> like this
>
> C:\Documents and Settings\User>python "C:\Documents and Settings\User
> \Desktop\spa
> m.py"
>
> , there is no error. Does anyone know why this is.
>
> Thank you

It is because of the spaces in the path.  The command prompt assumes
that when it encounters a space that is the end of the attribute.  By
surrounding it in quotes you are indicating that it is all one
attribute.


Steve