Why does my code work in python shell but not when I double click the py file

Question

Why does my python file run perfectly in the IDLE but doesn't work when I double click it. Let me rephrase, My if/else statements never seem to be true even tho they work correctly in the IDLE.

I even broke down ALL my code to the most simple if/else statement to test and make sure I wasn't missing something. Here is the code I broke down. this is the exact code in the py file, again it works in IDLE but not when I double click the py file

choice = input('letter: ')
if choice == 'a':
    print ('that is an a')
    input('press any key to exit...')
else:
    print('that letter is not an a')
    input('press any key to exit')

btw python v3.2 windows 7

What's the problem? Do you get a stack trace or weird behavior? — Rafe Kettler
– Rafe Kettler, Commented Apr 21, 2011 at 5:35
What is the program that opens when you double click? Is it a python 3.2 command line? — Jordan
– Jordan, Commented Apr 21, 2011 at 5:36
actually that wasn't my real program, my real program was a full interface that used classes and functions but my selection screen wasn't working so I had to grind it down to the core and found out it was my if/else statement that wasn't working..all in all i learned to add .strip() until i learn more of how to prevent this in a easier way — Isov5
– Isov5, Commented Apr 21, 2011 at 17:30

joaquin · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-21 06:07:48Z

3

try adding

choice = choice.strip()

this works for me

choice = input('letter: ')
choice = choice.strip()
if choice == 'a':
    print ('that is an a')
    input('press any key to exit...')
else:
    print('that letter is not an a')
    input('press any key to exit')

otherwise your input gives you the letter together with a newline and the if fails

edited Apr 21, 2011 at 6:07

answered Apr 21, 2011 at 5:51

joaquin

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2 Comments

Isov5 Over a year ago

That did indeed work, without being a hag can u give me a reason why that happened so I'll know for future reference!

joaquin Over a year ago

because when you write in the shell 'a'+'enter' input gets both keystrokes and returns 'a\n'.

rmmh · Accepted Answer · 2011-04-21 05:47:17Z

1

input() might be getting a string with a line ending.

Try adding the line print(repr(choice)) right after the input, to see exactly what you're working with.

answered Apr 21, 2011 at 5:47

rmmh

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2 Comments

Isov5 Over a year ago

i didnt get to check this as the advice above u seemed to works...BUT THANK YOU SOOO MUCH FOR ALL THE QUICK RESPONSES, i signed up just 3 minutes ago because I couldn't find help on this anywhere...This is now my official python lobby!

rmmh Over a year ago

If strip() fixed it, I am correct, and you were getting a line ending.

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