topic Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7 in Python Questions

Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:17:08 GMT

I am having some major Python issues. When I try to start PyCharm using the ArcGIS Pro Python environment it tries to initialize using the Python 2.7 ArcGIS 10.6 installation. Somehow my Python installations got crossed up.

I've tried uninstalling ArcGIS Pro and reinstalling it but that has no effect.

Is there any way to solve this?

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

curtvprice — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 03:53:39 GMT

Be sure you have set up pycharm to use the ArcGIS Pro install. ArcGIS Pro uses Conda, so you can link it directly to its Conda environment.

This doesn't happen automatically, you need to configure it which Python exe to use.

Can ArcGIS Pro integrate with JetBrains Pycharm‌

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 13:20:22 GMT

Right, it is using the ArcGIS Pro installation; that’s where I think the problem is because cloned environments also have the same problem. And when I try to install Spyder to a cloned environment it uses Python 2.7 packages instead of 3.6.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

LukeWebb — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:27:18 GMT

The short and dirty answer is, inside Pycharm / Spyder / any python IDE, there is a setting "Project Interpreter", which is pointing to a python.exe in a folder such as C:\python27\python.exe

You need to update this setting to point to a place such as:

C:\Program Files\ArcGIS\Pro\bin\Python\python.exe

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:37:38 GMT

I did set the interpreter to point to the ArcGIS Pro Python environment. I think when it tries to initialize it is using the Python.exe that is in the Python27 ArcGIS 10.6.1 folder. This seems to be a deeper Python issue than the IDE settings.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

curtvprice — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 14:49:46 GMT

When you installed PyCharm or Anaconda, did you check any boxes to set .py files to launch in that environment or other checkboxes that modify your Windows default paths? It is important to not do that because of the PATH and PYTHONPATH are messed with, pythons will not work right.

I just tried doing this last night and it worked fine in PyCharm. I configured both the 10.6/2.7 environment (which was discovered by the installer through the registry automatically) and the Pro anaconda environment in the bin/Python install folder and I could toggle back and forth between environments restart the console and successfully import the correct arcpy in each.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 15:30:46 GMT

I’ve been using the portable version of PyCharm and then pointing it to the Python environment that is installed on whichever computer I’m using.

I was able to install Spyder in a Python 3.6 environment and later I also installed it in a Python 2.7 environment. They were both successful and then I started getting the errors.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

DylanHarwell — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 22:46:14 GMT

I have tried this with PyScripter, which by default has always pointed to the 2.7 python installation on any machine with ArcGIS I have ever had. And changing its Python path to the 3 installed buried way down in the Pro folder never has worked. It always resorts back to 2.7. My workaround, I write 2.7 code in PyScripter and use Spyder for 3 code. My cynical thought is it has something to do with ESRI having their hands all over everything in the python installations lol

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

curtvprice — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 02:36:52 GMT

I think it has more to do with Windows being really weak with the ability to control a users application environment without risking conflict with environments needed for other applications. In Unix these kind of configurations are kind of isolated to the application you are running.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:59:14 GMT

I think python is messed up on the entire computer now. Any ideas on how to completely remove Python?

I'll start by completely removing ArcGIS products.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

curtvprice — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 07:00:06 GMT

All non-ArcGIS pythons should be able to be removed from a Windows box using Add Remove Programs. Removing ArcGIS will remove all the Esri Python installs, they are "attached" to the desktop uninstall process.

Be sure after all the pythons are gone you don't have any left over references in your system and user variables PATH and PYTHONPATH.

To be more efficient I would have recommended removing all Python software you see (including Anaconda, PyCharm etc) from Add/Remove programs and then doing a repair install of ArcGIS, but whatever works.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:01:16 GMT

Do it turns out if I uninstall ArcGIS Desktop then Python 3.6 works. If I reinstall ArcGIS Desktop then PyCharm and Spyder try to use the Python 2.7 installation.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:27:58 GMT

Just use spyder... you can use it for python programming in 2.7 and 3.6. Worse case scenario you can install a separate spyder for arcmap. There are a number of tips on how to use spyder for both and switch between them.

For example

How to change python version in anaconda spyder - Stack Overflow

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:37:26 GMT

Unfortunately if I have Python 2.7 installed then my Python 3.6 installation tries to initialize with 2.7.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

DylanHarwell — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:14:53 GMT

How are you installing Spyder? I'm thinking this could have something to do with it.. I would recommend doing a conda install from the 'arcgispro-py3' command prompt.

Dan has some awesome blog posts about using Spyder and Python 3.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:33:39 GMT

That is how I installed Spyder; I have since uninstalled Spyder and ArcGIS Desktop.

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:42:40 GMT

Do I need to edit something in the sys.path or someplace else?

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

DanPatterson_Retired — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:45:14 GMT

Mark, depends on whether you are the master of your machine

/blogs/dan_patterson/2018/12/28/clone

plus some other tidbits

/blogs/dan_patterson/2018/12/13/spyder

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

DylanHarwell — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:47:20 GMT

And I assume you're uninstalling through control panel or an uninstall wizard? It's been a while since I uninstalled Arc on my home computer, but I talked to tech support and was given a list of folder paths to check to make sure everything got removed, and I did find some things hanging around after the uninstall. Might not be a bad idea to also do a search on This PC for things like ESRI, ArcGIS, Python, etc and see what may be there still. Here is the list they gave me:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Esri
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ArcGIS
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Esri
C:\Program Files\ArcGIS
C:\Program Files\Esri
C:\Program Files\Common Files\ArcGIS
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Esri
C:\Program Data\Esri
C:\Program Data\ArcGIS
C:\Program Data\FLEXnet
C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\ESRI
C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Local\ArcGIS
C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\ESRI
C:\Users\<USERNAME>\AppData\Roaming\ArcGIS

Re: Python 3.6 tries to initialize with Python 2.7

MarkBinder — Fri, 12 Apr 2019 15:01:33 GMT

Thanks for that list.

I have some control over install/uninstall. I am able to add/remove ArcGIS Desktop 10.6.1 but not ArcGIS Pro 2.3. I have asked the IT department to remove Pro. I'm hoping by removing all ESRI products and Python references I can start over.