Python Addin only works if Python Window open in ArcMap?

Question

Using ArcGIS 10.2.1 and Python 2.7

My python addin works in ArcMap if I open ArcMap with the Python window open, but if I open ArcMap without the Python window open - I get a "MISSING" tool error. enter image description here See code below.

import arcpy
import pythonaddins
class IntersectionSearchCmb(object):
"""Implementation for IntersectionSearch_addin.combobox (ComboBox)"""
def __init__(self):
 arcpy.AddMessage("HERE I AM 1")
 print "Here i am 1"
 cur,row = None, None
 self.street_list = []
 self.street_dict = {}
 self.street_list.append("Battle St at 6th Ave")
 self.street_list.append("6th Ave at Battle St")
 self.street_dict["Battle St at 6th Ave"] = [688855.366,5616889]
 self.street_dict["6th Ave at Battle St"] = [688855.366,5616889]
 self.street_list.sort()
 #self.street = list(set(self.street))
 self.items = self.street_list
 self.editable = True
 self.enabled = True
 self.width = 'WWWWWWWWWWW'
 self.dropdownWidth = 'WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW'
def onSelChange(self, selection):
 arcpy.AddMessage("HERE I AM 2")
 print "Here i am 2"
 self.mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument('current')
 self.df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(self.mxd)[0]
 try:
 x = self.street_dict[selection][0]
 y = self.street_dict[selection][1]
 extent = arcpy.Extent(x,y,x,y)
 self.df.panToExtent(extent)
 self.df.scale = 1500
 arcpy.RefreshActiveView()
 except:
 pass
def onEditChange(self, text):
 pass
def onFocus(self, focused):
 arcpy.AddMessage("HERE I AM 3")
 print "Here i am 3"
 self.mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument('current')
 self.df = arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(self.mxd)[0]
 pass
def onEnter(self):
 pass
def refresh(self):
 pass

• Bjorn: Please add the text of the error message you are receiving.
• dklassen: I am not recieving an error message - just the tool within ArcMap is shown as [Missing]. No errors. I have attached the screen shot of the error in the original question now.
• PolyGeo: I think your config.xml and ArcPy code may be out of sync.
• dklassen: Any ideas on how to test this? I have re-compiled it, but perhaps I need to re-create it from scratch?
• Midavalo: Does it work on another machine? I have seen this before - addin icons showed on several computers and didn't show on several others.

Answer 1

Found the answer to my own question: the file C:\Python27\ArcGIS10.2\Lib\site-packages\desktop10.2.pth wasn't structured correctly. It was missing these 3 lines:

c:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.2\bin

c:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.2\arcpy

c:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.2\ArcToolbox\Scripts

Once these lines were added to the desktop10.2.pth file - everything worked correctly. I think our Python was installed incorrectly. Thanks for all your suggestions!