title: How can I launch a python script in the Qt Console with a windows shortcut?
body: <p>I have written a python program designed to run in the IPython qt console with inline graphs. My end users are factory workers running windows and are not technically sophisticated. I am trying hard to reduce complexity for them. </p>
  
  <p>How can I create a shortcut in windows that launches my program for them in the qt console?</p>
  
  <p><strong>Idea 1</strong></p>
  
  <p>Ask the users to open IPython qt console with the desktop icon then enter:</p>
  
  <pre><code>%run G:\my_app\start.ipy
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>My <code>start.ipy</code> file consists of 2 lines:</p>
  
  <pre><code>%matplotlib inline
  %run G:\my_app\my_app.py
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The <code>start.ipy</code> file exists to reduce the number of commands they need to enter from two to one. This system works but I want to avoid it because it requires the users to remember and enter a command correctly.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Idea 2</strong></p>
  
  <p>Create a <code>start.bat</code> file with the flowing code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>ipython qtconsole --matplotlib inline -m my_app
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Then put a shortcut to the .bat script on the desktop. This has two issues:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>The print statements in my_app don't work</li>
  <li>The black CMD.exe box pops up as well as the qt console</li>
  </ul>
  
  <p>Ideally I would like a way to run an arbitrary .ipy file in qt console using a shortcut. </p>