:attr:`stdout`, :attr:`stdin` and :attr:`stderr` are not updated by the
:meth:`communicate` method.
- The *startupinfo* and *creationflags*, if given, will be passed to the
- underlying CreateProcess() function. They can specify things such as appearance
- of the main window and priority for the new process. (Windows only)
+ If given, *startupinfo* will be a :class:`STARTUPINFO` object, which is
+ passed to the underlying ``CreateProcess`` function.
- *creationflags*, if given, can be :data:`CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE`. (Windows only)
++ *creationflags*, if given, can be :data:`CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE` or
++ :data:`CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP`. (Windows only)
+
+ Popen objects are supported as context managers via the :keyword:`with` statement,
+ closing any open file descriptors on exit.
+ ::
+
+ with Popen(["ifconfig"], stdout=PIPE) as proc:
+ log.write(proc.stdout.read())
+
+ .. versionchanged:: 3.2
+ Added context manager support.
.. data:: PIPE
``N`` (Unix only).
+ Windows Popen Helpers
+ ---------------------
+
+ The :class:`STARTUPINFO` class and following constants are only available
+ on Windows.
+
+ .. class:: STARTUPINFO()
+
+ Partial support of the Windows
+ `STARTUPINFO <http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms686331(v=vs.85).aspx>`__
+ structure is used for :class:`Popen` creation.
+
+ .. attribute:: dwFlags
+
+ A bit field that determines whether certain :class:`STARTUPINFO` members
+ are used when the process creates a window. ::
+
+ si = subprocess.STARTUPINFO()
+ si.dwFlags = subprocess.STARTF_USESTDHANDLES | subprocess.STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
+
+ .. attribute:: hStdInput
+
+ If :attr:`dwFlags` specifies :data:`STARTF_USESTDHANDLES`, this member is
+ the standard input handle for the process. If :data:`STARTF_USESTDHANDLES`
+ is not specified, the default for standard input is the keyboard buffer.
+
+ .. attribute:: hStdOutput
+
+ If :attr:`dwFlags` specifies :data:`STARTF_USESTDHANDLES`, this member is
+ the standard output handle for the process. Otherwise, this member is
+ ignored and the default for standard output is the console window's
+ buffer.
+
+ .. attribute:: hStdError
+
+ If :attr:`dwFlags` specifies :data:`STARTF_USESTDHANDLES`, this member is
+ the standard error handle for the process. Otherwise, this member is
+ ignored and the default for standard error is the console window's buffer.
+
+ .. attribute:: wShowWindow
+
+ If :attr:`dwFlags` specifies :data:`STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW`, this member
+ can be any of the values that can be specified in the ``nCmdShow``
+ parameter for the
+ `ShowWindow <http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms633548(v=vs.85).aspx>`__
+ function, except for ``SW_SHOWDEFAULT``. Otherwise, this member is
+ ignored.
+
+ :data:`SW_HIDE` is provided for this attribute. It is used when
+ :class:`Popen` is called with ``shell=True``.
+
+
+ Constants
+ ^^^^^^^^^
+
+ The :mod:`subprocess` module exposes the following constants.
+
+ .. data:: STD_INPUT_HANDLE
+
+ The standard input device. Initially, this is the console input buffer,
+ ``CONIN$``.
+
+ .. data:: STD_OUTPUT_HANDLE
+
+ The standard output device. Initially, this is the active console screen
+ buffer, ``CONOUT$``.
+
+ .. data:: STD_ERROR_HANDLE
+
+ The standard error device. Initially, this is the active console screen
+ buffer, ``CONOUT$``.
+
+ .. data:: SW_HIDE
+
+ Hides the window. Another window will be activated.
+
+ .. data:: STARTF_USESTDHANDLES
+
+ Specifies that the :attr:`STARTUPINFO.hStdInput`,
+ :attr:`STARTUPINFO.hStdOutput`, and :attr:`STARTUPINFO.hStdError` members
+ contain additional information.
+
+ .. data:: STARTF_USESHOWWINDOW
+
+ Specifies that the :attr:`STARTUPINFO.wShowWindow` member contains
+ additional information.
+
+ .. data:: CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE
+
+ The new process has a new console, instead of inheriting its parent's
+ console (the default).
+
+ This flag is always set when :class:`Popen` is created with ``shell=True``.
+
++.. data:: CREATE_NEW_PROCESS_GROUP
++
++ A :class:`Popen` ``creationflags`` parameter to specify that a new process
++ group will be created. This flag is necessary for using :func:`os.kill`
++ on the subprocess.
++
++ This flag is ignored if :data:`CREATE_NEW_CONSOLE` is specified.
++
+
.. _subprocess-replacements:
Replacing Older Functions with the subprocess Module