How to pass a variable to and from PCDMIS using Python?

Question

I wanted to open a thread for only this issue. There is some simple, but cool stuff I'd like to do if I could simply pass a variable to and from PCDMIS and Python. 
 I'd prefer not having to use a notepad temporary txt file that is the workaround for passing variables. 
 
 Below is the code in python that seems like the correct syntax to pass the variables, but it isn't working. You're my hero if you have the solution ;) 
 
import win32com.client as w32

# Connect to PCDMIS
dmisapp = w32.Dispatch('PCDLRN.Application')
dmispart = dmisapp.ActivePartProgram

# Retrieve the value of the variable "SHORTLOT"
# The VBA script to do this would be the following syntax:
# Dim Var As Object
# Set Var = dmispart.GetVariableValue ("SHORTLOT")

# The python syntax similar to the above approach does not work:
short_lot_value = dmispart.GetVariableValue("SHORTLOT")

# Set the value of the variable "SHORTLOT"
# The VBA Script to do this is:
# dmispart.SetVariableValue "SHORTLOT", short_lot_value

# The python method would seem to be this but doesn't work:
short_lot_value = "LOT-123456"
dmispart.SetVariableValue("SHORTLOT", short_lot_value)

Ed K · Answer

I realized you are correct about that. I've found a way to do it that is to my liking at least. 
 
 My software has a built-in command: Clipboard.SetText / GetText 
 I'm sure you can figure out your favorite way to access the clipboard from PC-DMIS. 
 
 import subprocess

txt = subprocess.getoutput("powershell.exe -Command Get-Clipboard")
print(txt) 
 there are many other ways to access the clipboard in python: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/101128/how-do-i-read-text-from-the-windows-clipboard-in-python 
 
 Its not as sophisticated as I would like but saves you the trouble of having a million .txt files that your programs require