How to execute a python script in a different directory?

Question

Solved see my answer below for anyone who might find this helpful.

I have two scripts a.py and b.py. In my current directory "C:\Users\MyName\Desktop\MAIN", I run > python a.py.

The first script, a.py runs in my current directory, does something to a bunch of files and creates a new directory (testA) with the edited versions of those files which are simultaneously moved into that new directory. Then I need to run b.py for the files in testA.

As a beginner, I would just copy and paste my b.py script into testA and execute the command again "> python b.py", which runs some commands on those new files and creates another folder (testB) with those edited files.

I am trying to eliminate the hassle of waiting for a.py to finish, move into that new directory, paste b.py, and then run b.py. I am trying to write a bash script that executes these scripts while maintaining my hierarchy of directories.

#!/usr/bin/env bash  python a.py && python b.py 

Script a.py runs smoothly, but b.py does not execute at all. There are no error messages coming up about b.py failing, I just think it cannot execute because once a.py is done, b.py does not exist in that NEW directory. Is there a small script I can add within b.py that moves it into the new directory? I actually tried changing b.py directory paths as well but it did not work.

For example in b.py:

mydir = os.getcwd() # would be the same path as a.py mydir_new = os.chdir(mydir+"\\testA") 

I changed mydirs to mydir_new in all instances within b.py, but that also made no difference...I also don't know how to move a script into a new directory within bash.

As a little flowchart of the folders:

MAIN # main folder with unedited files and both a.py and b.py scripts | | (execute a.py) | --------testA # first folder created with first edits of files          |          | (execute b.py)          |          --------------testB # final folder created with final edits of files 

TLDR: How do I execute a.py and b.py from the main test folder (bash script style?), if b.py relies on files created and stored in testA. Normally I copy and paste b.py into testA, then run b.py - but now I have 200+ files so copying and pasting is a waste of time.

Answer 1

The easiest answer is probably to change your working directory, then call the second .py file from where it is:

python a.py && cd testA && python ../b.py 

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Of course you might find it even easier to write a script that does it all for you, like so:

Save this as runTests.sh in the same directory as a.py is:

#!/bin/sh python a.py cd testA python ../b.py 

Make it executable:

chmod +x ./runTests.sh 

Then you can simply enter your directory and run it:

./runTests.sh