[Tutor] Problems with matplotlib

[Peter Otten]

Jason Snyder wrote:

> I installed the python module matplotlib on a computer and when I try to
> run a program with the commands:
> 
> import matplotlib.pyplot as plt I get the following errors:
> 
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>   File "new.py", line 1, in <module>
>     import matplotlib
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line
> 151, in <module>
>     from matplotlib.rcsetup import (defaultParams,
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/rcsetup.py", line
>   20,
> in <module>
>     from matplotlib.colors import is_color_like
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/colors.py", line 54,
> in <module>
>     import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/cbook.py", line 32,
> in <module>
>     import new
>   File "/home/www/html/auroratest/new.py", line 8, in <module>
>     plt.scatter(x,y)
> NameError: name 'plt' is not defined
> 
> when I try to use something like import matplotlib.image as image I get
> the following errors:
> 
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>   File "new.py", line 1, in <module>
>     import matplotlib.image as image
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line
> 151, in <module>
>     from matplotlib.rcsetup import (defaultParams,
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/rcsetup.py", line
>   20,
> in <module>
>     from matplotlib.colors import is_color_like
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/colors.py", line 54,
> in <module>
>     import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/cbook.py", line 32,
> in <module>
>     import new

This looks like a name clash. There is a module called "new" in Python's 
standard library, and matplotlib is trying to install that. Instead your own

>   File "/home/www/html/auroratest/new.py", line 1, in <module>

is found. Once you rename your new.py to something else (and remove the 
corresponding new.pyc) things should start to work again.

>     import matplotlib.image as image
>   File "/usr/lib64/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/image.py", line 13,
> in <module>
>     from matplotlib import rcParams
> ImportError: cannot import name rcParams
> 
> What is causing these errors and what specific things do I need to do to
> resolve this.  I need this explained clearly in a step by step way.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jason
>