[Tutor] simple troubleshooting question

[Alan Gauld]

On 17/08/16 23:15, Ken Mayer wrote:

> I'm new to Python.  I'm trying to do 3 things that are giving me invalid
> syntax or other problems:
> 
> 1)  import numpy as np
> 
> ImportError: No module named 'numpy'

Numpy is not part of standard Python. You need to install
it seperately or, my preference, download a Python
distribution such as Anaconda that comes with
it pre-installed.

> 2)  pip install - U pip
> 
> SyntaxError: invalid syntax'

You are running pip from inside python, it is actually an external
command that should be run from the OS command prompt (aka DOS
or CMD prompt)

> Also, is there any way I can copy entire code and paste it in the Python
> 3.5 (32-bit) type DOS screen that I have?

That's an interpreter intended for experimentation only. There
are other  more advanced Python interpreters that can accept
large amounts of pasted code(*) but it is usually better to
create a new file and save the code into the file then run
the file as a script.

[ (*)If you get Anaconda it comes with IPython which is an
example of such an interpreter, it has a notepad concept
where code can be pasted and executed. ]

So for example if you created a file called myscript.py
and pasted in the code:

import sys
name = input("Whats your name? ")
for i in range(3):
   print("Hello ", name)
sys.exit()

You would run it using

C:\WINDOWS> python path\to\myscript.py

Or, if you use the standard Python IDE - IDLE - you can
use the File->New menu to create a new python file
then paste your code, save it and run it all using
the menus.

HTH
-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
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