<s>[INST] How to execute a file within the python interpreter? I'm trying to execute a file with python commands from within the interpreter. 
EDIT: I'm trying to use variables and settings from that file, not to invoke a separate process.
 [/INST] Several ways.
From the shell
python someFile.py

From inside IDLE, hit F5.
If you're typing interactively, try this.
>>> variables= {}
>>> execfile( "someFile.py", variables )
>>> print variables # globals from the someFile module

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