[IPython-user] ipython/matplotlib question

[Robert Kern]

belinda thom wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I understand ipython -pylab is supposed to do most of the setup work  
> for matplotlib.
> 
> I've not been able to use (the rec'd) TkAgg as my backend in  
> matplotlibrc (doing so results in an ImportError: No module named  
> _tkagg). All of my dependent installs (python24, ipython, matplotlib)  
> have been thru macports.
> 
> An informative page (http://howdy.physics.nyu.edu/index.php/ 
> Numpy_For_Mac_Using_Macports) mentions that only the wxPython GUI  
> env. works on macports matplotlib, so I've just installed py-wxpython  
> (and have changed matplotlibrc so that bacakend is WxAgg).
> 
> Now when I run:
> 
>    ipython -pylab
> 
> and get:
> 
> -----------
> 
> 2 % ipython -pylab
> Python 2.4.3 (#1, Nov  9 2006, 12:26:57)
> Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
> 
> IPython 0.7.2 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.
> ?       -> Introduction to IPython's features.
> %magic  -> Information about IPython's 'magic' % functions.
> help    -> Python's own help system.
> object? -> Details about 'object'. ?object also works, ?? prints more.
> 
>    Welcome to pylab, a matplotlib-based Python environment.
>    For more information, type 'help(pylab)'.
> 
> In [1]: This program needs access to the screen. Please run with  
> 'pythonw',
> not 'python', and only when you are logged in on the main display of
> your Mac.
> 
> -----------
> 
> The terminal dies; to quit I use kill -9 (or press the red kill  
> button). Note that I tried running ipython from an xterm (does this  
> matter?).

You need to make sure that the python executable in the #! line of the main
ipython script is pythonw2.4 (or equivalently, the full path to
/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/Current/Python), not just python2.4.

-- 
Robert Kern

"I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma
 that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it as though it had
 an underlying truth."
  -- Umberto Eco