using backslash in python (not to escape)

Question

import os
path= os.getcwd()
final= path +'\xulrunner.exe ' + path + '\application.ini'
print final

I want the out put:

c:\python25\xulrunner.exe c:\python25\application.ini

I don't want backslash to work as string, i mean don't want it to escape or do anything special. But i get an error

Invalid \x escape

How can i use a '\' as a '\' and not an escape?

Answer 1

To answer your question directly, put r in front of the string.

final= path + r'\xulrunner.exe ' + path + r'\application.ini'

But a better solution would be os.path.join:

final = os.path.join(path, 'xulrunner.exe') + ' ' + \
         os.path.join(path, 'application.ini')

(the backslash there is escaping a newline, but you could put the whole thing on one line if you want)

I will mention that you can use forward slashes in file paths, and Python will automatically convert them to the correct separator (backslash on Windows) as necessary. So

final = path + '/xulrunner.exe ' + path + '/application.ini'

should work. But it's still preferable to use os.path.join because that makes it clear what you're trying to do.

Answer 2

You can escape the slash. Use \\ and you get just one slash.