How to set python enviroment variable on windows

Question

I've downloaded python installer from http://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.1.2/ , this python-3.1.2.msi file, I need to execute some python files? How do I do that? For example in php I'd do php filename.php from console, I do however have python command line but I don't know how to execute those files.

So if I could set ENV variable to directly execute my file(s) if that is possible that would be great.

Answer 1

There is an option in the installer called "Register Extensions" to associate Python files with the interpreter, so double-clicking them or entering filename.py in the console should work.

Apart from that you might want to add C:\Python31 to your PATH variable (right-click on My Computer, choose Settings, choose the Advanced Tab - there you can access the system variables. Better do this as an admin.

• Gandalf StormCrow: I've added it to the path now, but I get some compile errors is it possible that I've downloaded wrong version of the language?

Answer 2

If you type python in the Windows command line, what happens? Is the Python interpreter in your PATH yet?

If not, add the Python installation directory there (here's a good guide). Then just do python script.py just like with PHP.

• Gandalf StormCrow: I've added it to the path now, but I get some compile errors is it possible that I've downloaded wrong version of the language?
• Tim Pietzcker: Python 3 is incompatible with Python 2. If you're getting runtime errors (hard to get compile errors in Python), you might be running a Python 2 script. A good sign are print statements - if the syntax used is print "Hello" instead of print("Hello"), then it's a Python 2 script. You can have both versions installed in parallel.
• Gandalf StormCrow: @Tim Pietzcker its like this in the file print " list - Print summary of existing objects by class" so its version 2 of the language?
• Tim Pietzcker: Yes it is. Download version 2.6.5 and install it in a different directory - see also here: stackoverflow.com/questions/1835930

Answer 3

you can just execute python yourfile.py

Or if the python command don't work you have to give the absolute path to you python installation or add it to windows path