Python error when running from file but not from prompt

Question

I have just installed Python 3.4.0 on Windows. PATH is set properly, the trailing slash in C:\Python34\ removed, but I am having trooble running some scripts from an external file.

For example, I have found a hello world script for Tkinter. For argument, the simplest version is:

import tkinter
root = tkinter.Tk()

If I run each line individually in the prompt, it runs fine and it opens the window. If I save it in a file and try to run "python my_file.py" in the prompt, I get the following error:

AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'Tk'

in line 2. I get strange errors trying to do stuff like

from tkinter.constants import *

or even

import sys

but only when I run from a file. Stuff like

print("Hello world")

runs just fine either way, so I think PATH is doing fine. What gives?

What are the "strange errors" you're getting? Please edit your question to include as much info as possible. — MattDMo
– MattDMo, Commented May 8, 2014 at 21:39
Also, the standard question when people get mysterious AttributeErrors: did you happen to name a program of your own tkinter.py? You can check by doing import tkinter and then print(tkinter.__file__). — DSM
– DSM, Commented May 8, 2014 at 22:11
I was gonna edit and include more detail, but then I read @DSM 's response and that was it. Thank you both — Monstah
– Monstah, Commented May 9, 2014 at 13:26

Bryan Oakley · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-09 17:24:49Z

1

It sounds like you have a local file named "tkinter.py" that is getting imported when you do "import tkinter". You can verify that pretty easily with the following:

import tkinter
print(tkinter.__file__)

answered May 9, 2014 at 17:24

Bryan Oakley

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1 Comment

Monstah Over a year ago

Yes, that was it, as DSM pointed out above. It was the name of the helloworld script

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