Скачать или смотреть Resolving FileNotFoundError in VSCode's Python Interactive Window vs. Actual Code Execution

Learn how to solve the common `FileNotFoundError` issue when running Python scripts in VSCode, specifically when working with CSV files in interactive windows versus the actual code file.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/68954194/ asked by the user 'Yiğit Çatak' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14716914/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/68991954/ provided by the user 'Steven-MSFT' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13037676/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: VSCode - Python - Interactive window finds the file but main python file can not

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Understanding the FileNotFoundError in VSCode

When working with Python in Visual Studio Code (VSCode), you might encounter a frustrating error: FileNotFoundError. This often occurs when you're executing code that works perfectly fine in the interactive window, but fails when you try to run the actual Python script. This situation is common for many developers, especially when dealing with file paths and directories. Let's dive into this problem and explore how to resolve it effectively.

The Problem: File Not Found

In our case, a user was trying to read multiple .csv files from a subfolder called "bearingset" within the same directory as their Python (.py) file. While the code worked in the interactive window, it raised a FileNotFoundError when executed from the .py file. The specific error message was:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

What Causes This Error?

Current Working Directory (cwd):

The issue arises due to differences in the current working directory (cwd) used by the interactive window and the main Python file.

The interactive window might have a different cwd than your script, which can lead to the script being unable to locate the specified files.

The Solution: Fixing File Path Issues

There are a few strategies you can use to resolve this issue and ensure that your code runs smoothly in both the interactive window and the script file. Let's break down the solutions step by step.

1. Check the Current Working Directory

It's essential to understand where your script thinks it's running. You can check the cwd using the following code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Run this snippet in both the interactive window and the script to see if there is a discrepancy in the directories.

2. Modify Your Launch Configuration

If you run your code in debug mode, you can change the current working directory by modifying the launch.json file in VSCode. Add or adjust the following line in the configuration:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This specifies the directory in which your script should look for files.

3. Use Absolute Paths

Instead of relying on relative paths (like bearingset/health_20_0.csv), you can explicitly specify the absolute path to your files. For example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This method eliminates any ambiguity about where the files are located.

4. Change the Current Working Directory in Code

You can programmatically set the cwd in your Python script using the following command:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This will make sure that when your script runs, it has the correct context for finding your files.

Conclusion

Navigating file paths can be tricky, especially when switching between interactive environments and script execution. By checking your current working directory, modifying your launch configuration, using absolute paths, or changing the cwd in your code, you can effectively resolve the FileNotFoundError and run your Python scripts seamlessly in VSCode. Remember, taking a little time to ensure your file paths are set correctly will save you a lot of headaches down the road!