Python Matplotlib: "ImportError: cannot import name flatten"

Question

I have a fresh install of Ubuntu 13.04 and am trying to use the python library matlibplot. I installed it via sudo apt-get install python-matplotlib and this seemed to be successful. However, then I try to run a python script with import matplotlib, I get the following exception message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "./simulate.py", line 6, in <module>
    import matplotlib
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 165, in <module>
    from matplotlib.rcsetup import (defaultParams,
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/rcsetup.py", line 20, in <module>
    from matplotlib.colors import is_color_like
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/colors.py", line 54, in <module>
    import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/cbook.py", line 34, in <module>
    import new
  File "/home/rob/Dropbox/Fourth Year/algo/git/new.py", line 3, in <module>
    from pylab import *
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/pylab.py", line 1, in <module>
    from matplotlib.pylab import *
  File "/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/matplotlib/pylab.py", line 219, in <module>
    from cbook import flatten, is_string_like, exception_to_str, \
ImportError: cannot import name flatten

This has happened previously (and I was not able to get around it). There does not seem anyone who has had the same problem.

Does anyone know of a solution?

superbriggs · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-03 16:10:19Z

2

The problem was that I had a file called new.py in the same directory.

Its worth noting that you need to remove that and new.pyc to fix the issues.

answered Jan 3, 2014 at 16:10

superbriggs

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1 Comment

dg99 Over a year ago

Good catch. You've taught me to actually read the file names in tracebacks.

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