Windows interactive Python: Difference between revisions

From CommunityData
(Added instructions for Windows 8.)
(Killed XP (may it rest in peace) and switched to Powershell.)
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<li>Open a command prompt:<br />
<li>Open a command prompt:<br />
* On Windows 8, click the Start menu (or hit the windows key), type <code>PowerShell</code> (which will open the Search field) and hit enter.  
* On Windows 8, click the Start menu (or hit the windows key), type <code>PowerShell</code> (which will open the Search field) and hit enter.  
* On Windows Vista or Windows 7: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), type <code>cmd</code> into the Search field directly above the Start menu button, and click on "cmd" in the search results above the Search field.
* On Windows Vista or Windows 7: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), type <code>PowerShell</code> into the Search field directly above the Start menu button, and click on "Powershell" in the search results above the Search field.
* On Windows XP: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), click on "Run...", type <code>cmd</code> into the text box, and hit enter.
<li>To start Python, type <pre>python</pre> at the command prompt and hit enter. You should see something like
<li>To start Python, type <pre>python</pre> at the command prompt and hit enter. You should see something like



Revision as of 04:32, 3 November 2014

  1. Open a command prompt:
    • On Windows 8, click the Start menu (or hit the windows key), type PowerShell (which will open the Search field) and hit enter.
    • On Windows Vista or Windows 7: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), type PowerShell into the Search field directly above the Start menu button, and click on "Powershell" in the search results above the Search field.
  2. To start Python, type
    python
    at the command prompt and hit enter. You should see something like
    Python 2.7.1 (r271:86832, ...) on win32
    Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
    >>>
    

    The >>> indicates that you are at a Python prompt.

  3. Exit the Python prompt by typing
    exit()
    and hitting enter. Now you're back at the Windows command prompt (C:\).

Success!

Practice these steps until you feel comfortable navigating to a command prompt, starting Python, and exiting Python. python