syntax error when using command line in python
Question:
I am having trouble using the command line. I have a script test.py (which only contains print("Hello.")), and it is located in the map C:Python27. In my system variables, I have specified python to be C:Python27 (I have other versions of Python installed on my computer as well).
I thought this should be enough to run python test.py in the command line, but when I do so I get this:
File "<stdin>", line 1
python test.py
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
Answers:
Looks like your problem is that you are trying to run python test.py from within the Python interpreter, which is why you’re seeing that traceback.
Make sure you’re out of the interpreter, then run the python test.py command from bash or command prompt or whatever.
Don’t type python test.py from inside the Python interpreter. Type it at the command prompt, like so:
Running from the command line means running from the terminal or DOS shell. You are running it from Python itself.
In order to run scripts, you should write the “python test.py” command in the command prompt, and not within the python shell. also, the test.py file should be at the path you run from in the cli.
I faced a similar problem, on my Windows computer, please do check that you have set the Environment Variables correctly.
To check that Environment variable is set correctly:
-
Open cmd.exe
-
Type Python and press return
-
(a) If it outputs the version of python then the environment variables are set correctly.
(b) If it outputs "no such program or file name" then your
environment variable are not set correctly.
To set environment variable:
- goto Computer-> System Properties-> Advanced System Settings -> Set Environment Variables
- Goto path in the system variables; append ;C:Python27 in the end.
If you have correct variables already set; then you are calling the file inside the python interpreter.
Come out of the “python interpreter.”
- Check out your PATH variable c:python27
- cd and your file location.
3.Now type Python yourfilename.py.
I hope this should work
You can simply type exit() in the Python terminal to exit the Python interpreter. Then when you run the code, there will be no more errors.
I am having trouble using the command line. I have a script test.py (which only contains print("Hello.")), and it is located in the map C:Python27. In my system variables, I have specified python to be C:Python27 (I have other versions of Python installed on my computer as well).
I thought this should be enough to run python test.py in the command line, but when I do so I get this:
File "<stdin>", line 1
python test.py
^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
Looks like your problem is that you are trying to run python test.py from within the Python interpreter, which is why you’re seeing that traceback.
Make sure you’re out of the interpreter, then run the python test.py command from bash or command prompt or whatever.
Don’t type python test.py from inside the Python interpreter. Type it at the command prompt, like so:
Running from the command line means running from the terminal or DOS shell. You are running it from Python itself.
In order to run scripts, you should write the “python test.py” command in the command prompt, and not within the python shell. also, the test.py file should be at the path you run from in the cli.
I faced a similar problem, on my Windows computer, please do check that you have set the Environment Variables correctly.
To check that Environment variable is set correctly:
-
Open cmd.exe
-
Type Python and press return
-
(a) If it outputs the version of python then the environment variables are set correctly.
(b) If it outputs "no such program or file name" then your
environment variable are not set correctly.
To set environment variable:
- goto Computer-> System Properties-> Advanced System Settings -> Set Environment Variables
- Goto path in the system variables; append ;C:Python27 in the end.
If you have correct variables already set; then you are calling the file inside the python interpreter.
Come out of the “python interpreter.”
- Check out your PATH variable c:python27
- cd and your file location.
3.Now type Python yourfilename.py.
I hope this should work
You can simply type exit() in the Python terminal to exit the Python interpreter. Then when you run the code, there will be no more errors.