"SyntaxError: Invalid Syntax" when trying to run a .py script from IDLE in Command Prompt

Question

I just started learning python. I created a simple .py file using the IDLE editor and I am trying to run it from the command prompt. However, every time it keeps giving me the "SyntaxError: Invalid Syntax" message.

This is how the .py file looks when opened with notepad:

 Python 3.6.2 (v3.6.2:5fd33b5, Jul  8 2017, 04:57:36) [MSC v.1900 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

 Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.

 >>> import sys

 >>> print(sys.platform)

 win32

 >>> x="Spam!"

 >>> print(x*8)

 Spam!Spam!Spam!Spam!Spam!Spam!Spam!Spam!

 >>> print(2**100)

 1267650600228229401496703205376

 >>>

And this is what I type in the cmd:

 C:\code\script1.py

Assistance would be appreciated.

That's not a py file at all. That's a copy of a shell session. What tutorial told you to put that in a file? — Daniel Roseman
– Daniel Roseman, Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 7:03
I ran the code in IDLE then saved it as a .py file. That isnt a script? — Mohamed Moustafa
– Mohamed Moustafa, Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 7:05
No not at all. You can surely see it has many things that are not Python code: those first two introduction lines, the >>> prompts, and your own output from your print statements. What would they be doing in a script? — Daniel Roseman
– Daniel Roseman, Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 7:07
Is there a way to get the IDLE editor to only save the code? — Mohamed Moustafa
– Mohamed Moustafa, Commented Sep 12, 2018 at 7:08

Jacques de Hooge · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-12 07:32:08Z

4

That's not a Python program, it's the log of an interactive (command prompt) session.

Instead, try entering the following in any text editor (e.g. notepad, notepad++), save it as C:\code\script2.py and then run it as you did:

import sys

print(sys.platform)

x="Spam!"
print(x*8)

print(2**100)

[EDIT] If you want to use Idle for this, click [File][New] to create a Python source code file, type in the above, save it and then run it as you did.

[EDIT2] Idle is and example of an Interactive Development Environment (IDE). Since you're new to programming: IDE's tend to obscure what's going on, although Idle isn't a severe case of this. So using a separate editor and running from the command line as you did is actually a good way to familiarize yourself with what's going on under the hood. This will pay off in many ways in the long run.

edited Sep 12, 2018 at 7:32

answered Sep 12, 2018 at 7:05

Jacques de Hooge

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2 Comments

Mohamed Moustafa Over a year ago

Is there a way to get the IDLE editor to only save the code?

Jacques de Hooge Over a year ago

See my [EDIT] on how to use Idle for this.

Elias · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-12 07:14:54Z

0

As said before; This is not a python file...

Python 2.7.10 (default, Feb  7 2017, 00:08:15) 
[GCC 4.2.1 Compatible Apple LLVM 8.0.0 (clang-800.0.34)] on darwin
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

That's the shell (which you get if you just type: python) where you can type commands like:

fruits = ["apple", "banana", "cherry"]
for x in fruits:
    print(x)

and this will instantly execute...

What you need to to is go on and create a script.py file, write your stuff in there and then execute it as: python script.py

Greeting Elias

answered Sep 12, 2018 at 7:14

Elias

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