ActiveState Code

Recipe 496767: Set Process Priority In Windows

This function allows you to set process priority under windows. It defaults to setting the priority of the current python process but can set anything for which you have a process ID. I find it handy to set a long-running job with lower than normal priority so the computer doesn't feel sluggish while it runs.

Python 
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def setpriority(pid=None,priority=1):
    """ Set The Priority of a Windows Process.  Priority is a value between 0-5 where
        2 is normal priority.  Default sets the priority of the current
        python process but can take any valid process ID. """
        
    import win32api,win32process,win32con
    
    priorityclasses = [win32process.IDLE_PRIORITY_CLASS,
                       win32process.BELOW_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS,
                       win32process.NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS,
                       win32process.ABOVE_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASS,
                       win32process.HIGH_PRIORITY_CLASS,
                       win32process.REALTIME_PRIORITY_CLASS]
    if pid == None:
        pid = win32api.GetCurrentProcessId()
    handle = win32api.OpenProcess(win32con.PROCESS_ALL_ACCESS, True, pid)
    win32process.SetPriorityClass(handle, priorityclasses[priority])

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