[Python-checkins] r73705 - python/trunk/Doc/library/subprocess.rst

[georg.brandl]

Author: georg.brandl
Date: Tue Jun 30 18:17:28 2009
New Revision: 73705

Log:
#6374: add a bit of explanation about shell=True on Windows.

Modified:
   python/trunk/Doc/library/subprocess.rst

Modified: python/trunk/Doc/library/subprocess.rst
==============================================================================
--- python/trunk/Doc/library/subprocess.rst	(original)
+++ python/trunk/Doc/library/subprocess.rst	Tue Jun 30 18:17:28 2009
@@ -73,7 +73,11 @@
    needed: Usually, the program to execute is defined by the *args* argument. If
    ``shell=True``, the *executable* argument specifies which shell to use. On Unix,
    the default shell is :file:`/bin/sh`.  On Windows, the default shell is
-   specified by the :envvar:`COMSPEC` environment variable.
+   specified by the :envvar:`COMSPEC` environment variable. The only reason you
+   would need to specify ``shell=True`` on Windows is where the command you
+   wish to execute is actually built in to the shell, eg ``dir``, ``copy``.
+   You don't need ``shell=True`` to run a batch file, nor to run a console-based
+   executable.
 
    *stdin*, *stdout* and *stderr* specify the executed programs' standard input,
    standard output and standard error file handles, respectively.  Valid values