Executing a vbs file with arguments created by python

Question

I would like to convert dozens of excel sheets to csv files at once. I have a working .vbs file which makes the conversion, and I would like to execute this .vbs file on the different sheets with the help of a python code. I have the following 2 versions of the python code:

Version 1:

import os
import sys
import subprocess

FolderName=sys.argv[1]
FileList=os.listdir(FolderName)
NewList=[]

for i in FileList:
   NewItem=i.split('.xls')
   NewXls=FolderName+"\\"+NewItem[0]+".xlsx "
   NewCsv=FolderName+"\\"+NewItem[0]+".csv"
   NewCommand="C:\\Users\\user\\XlsToCsv.vbs "+sys.argv[2]+" "+NewXls+NewCsv
   subprocess.call(NewCommand)

Version 2:

import os
import sys
import subprocess

def main(directory,extension,sheet):
 for filename in os.listdir(directory):
    if filename.endswith(extension):
        path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
        base = os.path.join(directory, filename[:len(filename)-len(extension)])
        print base
        new_xls = base + extension
        new_csv = base + '.csv'
        subprocess.call(['C:\\Users\\user\\XlsToCsv.vbs', sheet, new_xls, new_csv])

main(sys.argv[1],sys.argv[2],sys.argv[3])

It does not matter, which I try, I get the same error message:

 Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "C:/Users/user/Desktop/Work/XlsDir.py", line 16, in <module>
     subprocess.call(NewCommand)
   File "C:\Python27\lib\subprocess.py", line 524, in call
     return Popen(*popenargs, **kwargs).wait()
   File "C:\Python27\lib\subprocess.py", line 711, in __init__
     errread, errwrite)
   File "C:\Python27\lib\subprocess.py", line 948, in _execute_child
     startupinfo)
   WindowsError: [Error 193] %1 er ikke et gyldigt Win32-program

The last line of the error message means approximately, that it is not a valid Win32-program.

What I have tried so far:

• If I run the .vbs file from command prompt with the right arguments (sheet, name of the .xls file and name of the .csv file) then it works fine.
• If I print the commands that python generates and copy them into command prompt, they work fine.
• I tried every combinations of '\' and '\' within the different paths, and nothing got any better.
• I tried to execute the programs with replacing the sys.argv[i] arguments with specific arguments and then execute the .py file from command prompt. I get the same error message.

I hope some of you can help me. Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

To elaborate on Ansgar's remedy:

Starting a .vbs from the command line 'works', because the shell associates the extension .vbs with an application (e.g. cscript/wscript; see ftype, assoc, cscript //E, cescript //S).

subprocess.call() does not open a shell, so either specify the application (c|wscript.exe) or start the shell yourself:

import subprocess

#subprocess.call("notepad") # works

#subprocess.call("dir") # [Error 2] The system cannot find the file specified
                        # no shell, no intrinsics

#subprocess.call("19112944.vbs") # [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application
                                 # no shell, can't associate .vbs with c|wscript.exe

subprocess.call("cscript 19112944.vbs") # works

subprocess.call("cmd /c 19112944.vbs") # works
                                       # have shell, can associate .vbs with c|wscript.exe