Python: source code string cannot contain null bytes

Question

I'm using Max OS X 10.10.3, and I finally got the graphics.py to show in Python 3, before it was saying no module existed.

However, now when I try import graphics, or from graphics import *, I get the message:

"source code string cannot contain null bytes"

Does any Mac user (using Python 3) perhaps know what is wrong? Has anyone used the Zelle book and his graphics.py module? Thanks.

According to this, that message appears when there's a null byte in the file. It doesn't say how exactly to remove it, but I'd try to edit the file with something like Notepad++. — TigerhawkT3
– TigerhawkT3, Commented Jul 5, 2015 at 20:14
From this answer, this might remove the null bytes: python -c 'import sys; sys.stdout.write(sys.stdin.read().replace("\0", ""))' < graphics.py > graphics_new.py. — user707650
– user707650, Commented Jul 5, 2015 at 22:26
But how did you create this file? That should answer how you ended up with null bytes in the first place. — user707650
– user707650, Commented Jul 5, 2015 at 22:27
Evert, I didn't create the graphics.py module, it's designed for beginners wanting an introduction to GUI in Python: mcsp.wartburg.edu/zelle/python — Peter G. Williams
– Peter G. Williams, Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 2:06
And thanks for the advice, I'll try that out. But how many different lines do I use for those instructions you gave me? Thanks. — Peter G. Williams
– Peter G. Williams, Commented Jul 6, 2015 at 2:06

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 10:33:42Z

50

For posterity: I had the same problem and fixed it using,

sed -i 's/\x0//g' FILENAME

The file seemed to be messed up in numerous ways (wrong endings, etc); no idea how...

See https://stackoverflow.com/a/2399817/230468

edited May 23, 2017 at 10:33

CommunityBot

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answered Aug 22, 2016 at 19:39

DilithiumMatrix

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1 Comment

Mangs Over a year ago

I created my .py file using windows terminal. echo print("test") > test.py and that file was corrupted from start.

Paco Meraz · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-13 04:42:07Z

39

I am using Visual Studio Code, the encoding was set to UTF-16 LE. You can check the encoding on the right bottom side of VSCode. Just click on the encoding and select "save with encoding" and select UTF-8. It worked perfectly.

answered Jun 13, 2019 at 4:42

Paco Meraz

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Comments

Habib Karbasian · Accepted Answer · 2019-08-05 06:09:15Z

9

I got this message when I wanted to use eval for my input for my function that sometimes it takes string or int/float but when it takes numpy numbers, it throws this exception, eval(number).

My solution was eval(str(number)).

answered Aug 5, 2019 at 6:09

Habib Karbasian

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Chaplin Hwang · Accepted Answer · 2018-11-28 03:20:45Z

6

I just encountered this problem, which is usually caused by the encoding format. You can use Notepad++ to change the encoding format of python files to UTF-8.

answered Nov 28, 2018 at 3:20

Chaplin Hwang

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Fabio Caccamo · Accepted Answer · 2019-04-16 09:20:54Z

2

Open your file with an editor that can show you all invisible character. You will see where is the invalid char, just delete and re-type it.

If you are on mac you can do it with Coda > Open your file > Show invisible characters.

answered Apr 16, 2019 at 9:20

Fabio Caccamo

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1 Comment

wjandrea Over a year ago

A hex editor would work for this too.

user6243946 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-23 09:15:24Z

1

This kind of error is not from your project source code. This kind of error emerges from your python interpreter. So the best solution is to set your python interpreter in your project env directory. or set the interpreters virtual env properly using your IDE's interpreter configuration.

answered Apr 23, 2016 at 9:15

user6243946

Comments

Jay Dorsey · Accepted Answer · 2019-07-26 20:10:27Z

1

Go to python folder python36/Lib/site-packages/scipy/
Open __init__.py

Change:

from scipy._lib._testutils import PytestTester

to:

from scipy._lib.test__testutils import PytestTester

It worked on my windows 7

edited Jul 26, 2019 at 20:10

Jay Dorsey

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answered Jul 26, 2019 at 16:30

Atharva Panage

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1 Comment

Sara Over a year ago

I am using google colab and I got the message: source code string cannot contain null bytes. Do you have any Idea how can I fix it?

linuxovich · Accepted Answer · 2025-04-15 08:20:02Z

0

I faced this issue when I was trying to zip python project and then upload archive to execute the code. The main reason is zip in MacOS put extra system files by default.
Flag "-X" helped me to solve this.
zip -r -X archive.zip my_folder

answered Apr 15 at 8:20

linuxovich

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Janarthanan Ramu · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-30 06:42:30Z

-3

I created a file using windows terminal echo "hello" > hello.py and got this issue. I resolved by creating a new file from notepad

answered May 30, 2021 at 6:42

Janarthanan Ramu

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Harel Malichi · Accepted Answer · 2021-11-18 14:55:16Z

-3

My problem was the python interpreter, try changing it to the right python directory path

answered Nov 18, 2021 at 14:55

Harel Malichi

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1 Comment

David Bern Over a year ago

This does not provide an answer to the question. Once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post; instead, provide answers that don't require clarification from the asker. - From Review

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