I'm trying to use python in powershell

user_1576821 0
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I'm trying to follow Zed Shaw's guide for Learning Python the Hard Way. I need to use python in Powershell. I have Python 2.7.3 installed in C:\Python27. Whenever I type python into Powershell, I get an error that says the term 'python' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. I also typed in this: [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$env:Path;C:\Python27", "User") That was a suggested solution provided, but typing python into Powershell still does nothing. I can type in "start python" and it opens up a window with python but I need it in Powershell. Thanks.

python-2.7 powershell python
13 Answers

To be able to use Python immediately without restarting the shell window you need to change the path for the machine, the process and the user.

Function Get-EnvVariableNameList {
    [cmdletbinding()]
    $allEnvVars = Get-ChildItem Env:
    $allEnvNamesArray = $allEnvVars.Name
    $pathEnvNamesList = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList
    $pathEnvNamesList.AddRange($allEnvNamesArray)
    return ,$pathEnvNamesList
}

Function Add-EnvVarIfNotPresent {
Param (
[string]$variableNameToAdd,
[string]$variableValueToAdd
   ) 
    $nameList = Get-EnvVariableNameList
    $alreadyPresentCount = ($nameList | Where{$_ -like $variableNameToAdd}).Count
    #$message = ''
    if ($alreadyPresentCount -eq 0)
    {
    [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable($variableNameToAdd, $variableValueToAdd, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
    [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable($variableNameToAdd, $variableValueToAdd, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Process)
    [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable($variableNameToAdd, $variableValueToAdd, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User)
        $message = "Enviromental variable added to machine, process and user to include $variableNameToAdd"
    }
    else
    {
        $message = 'Environmental variable already exists. Consider using a different function to modify it'
    }
    Write-Information $message
}


Function Get-EnvExtensionList {
    $pathExtArray =  ($env:PATHEXT).Split("{;}")
    $pathExtList = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList
    $pathExtList.AddRange($pathExtArray)
    return ,$pathExtList
}


Function Add-EnvExtension {
Param (
[string]$pathExtToAdd
   ) 
    $pathList = Get-EnvExtensionList
    $alreadyPresentCount = ($pathList | Where{$_ -like $pathToAdd}).Count
    if ($alreadyPresentCount -eq 0)
    {
        $pathList.Add($pathExtToAdd)
        $returnPath = $pathList -join ";"
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('pathext', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('pathext', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Process)
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('pathext', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User)
        $message = "Path extension added to machine, process and user paths to include $pathExtToAdd"
    }
    else
    {
        $message = 'Path extension already exists'
    }
    Write-Information $message
}

Function Get-EnvPathList {
    [cmdletbinding()]
    $pathArray =  ($env:PATH).Split("{;}")
    $pathList = New-Object System.Collections.ArrayList
    $pathList.AddRange($pathArray)
    return ,$pathList
}

Function Add-EnvPath {
Param (
[string]$pathToAdd
   ) 
    $pathList = Get-EnvPathList
    $alreadyPresentCount = ($pathList | Where{$_ -like $pathToAdd}).Count
    if ($alreadyPresentCount -eq 0)
    {
        $pathList.Add($pathToAdd)
        $returnPath = $pathList -join ";"
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('path', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Machine)
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('path', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::Process)
        [System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable('path', $returnPath, [System.EnvironmentVariableTarget]::User)
        $message = "Path added to machine, process and user paths to include $pathToAdd"
    }
    else
    {
        $message = 'Path already exists'
    }
    Write-Information $message
}

Add-EnvExtension '.PY'
Add-EnvExtension '.PYW'
Add-EnvPath 'C:\Python27\'
user_39761890
  1. download Nodejs for windows
  2. install node-vxxx.msi
  3. find "Install Additional Tools for Node.js" script
  4. open and install it
  5. reopen a new shell prompt, type "python" >> press "enter" >> it works!!
user_11554640
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