Need better run/edit method. I have to restart the shell after every script change.

[Brian Blais]

Mark wrote:
> I'm currently running the IDLE shell under Python 2.5, on Windows XP.
> 
> Every time I edit my .txt or .py file, I have to restart the IDLE shell
> for the changes to take effect. It's pretty annoying. Assuming IDLE is
> already open, here are the steps that I typically take:
> 
> 1. Open .txt version of module or script using notepad
> 2. make changes
> 3. save .txt file as .txt file
> 4. save .txt file as .py file
> 5. reset IDLE
> 6. import module again
> 

why do you involve notepad, and .txt files?  Instead, try this:

1. Run Idle
2. Choose File/New Window
3. Edit your .py file, and save it as a .py file
4. Choose Run/Run Module
5. Make changes, and save again
6. Choose Run/Run Module
7. etc...

you don't need to close IDLE ever.  IDLE refers to the editor, and the shell that 
runs connected to it.  If you have just the shell, you can open the editor with 
File/New Window.  If you have just the editor, you can choose Run/Python Shell   or 
Run/Run Module depending on what you want to do, to get the shell.

You can also take a .py file in the Windows explorer, right-click, and choose "Open 
with IDLE" to start editing it directly.

You shouldn't save things as .txt, because then IDLE will not recognize it is python 
you are writing, and the right-click trick probably won't work either.  You should 
never use Notepad, because it is just icky, and doesn't know about any programming 
languages.  :)

Hope this helps,

			Brian Blais


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              bblais at bryant.edu
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