matplotlib basic question

Question

Please forgive my simple question. I have just started to use Matplotlib and I am having some difficulty.

I can run the following with the interpretor without problems:

>>> from pylab import *  
>>> plot([1,2,3])  
>>> show()

The above code generates a beautiful graph.

However, if I place the following code inside a file and run it, I get an error:

#!/usr/bin/env python
# encoding: utf-8

import sys
import os
from pylab import *

plot([1,2,3])
show()

Here is the error message:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/Users/sbrown/Desktop/new1.py", line 12, in <module>
    from pylab import *
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/pylab.py", line 1, in <module>
    from matplotlib.pylab import *
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/__init__.py", line 133, in <module>
    from matplotlib.rcsetup import (defaultParams,
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/rcsetup.py", line 19, in <module>
    from matplotlib.colors import is_color_like
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/colors.py", line 54, in <module>
    import matplotlib.cbook as cbook
  File "/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.7/lib/python2.7/site-packages/matplotlib/cbook.py",     line 15, in <module>
    import new
  File "/Users/sbrown/Desktop/new.py", line 2, in <module>
    plot([1,2,3])
NameError: name 'plot' is not defined
>>>

Any idea what the problem could be? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

It might be a namespace issue. What happens if you get rid of the from pylab import * and use import pylab pylab.plot([1,2,3])? — Stephen Terry
– Stephen Terry, Commented May 12, 2011 at 18:48
It looks like the error message is not related to the code snippet you've posted: Where does "import new" comes from? Do you have a new.py file on your desktop? — Zaur Nasibov
– Zaur Nasibov, Commented May 12, 2011 at 18:48
@ Stephen Terry I tried your suggestion. No luck, it throws the same error. I appreciate the help though! — drbunsen
– drbunsen, Commented May 12, 2011 at 18:59
@ Zaur Nasibov Correct, the file name is new.py and it is on my Desktop. — drbunsen
– drbunsen, Commented May 12, 2011 at 19:00

samplebias · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-12 18:58:05Z

9

Looks like you have a file on your Desktop that is shadowing the standard Python new module:

>>> import new
>>> new
<module 'new' from '/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/lib/python2.6/new.pyc'>

Rename or remove $HOME/Desktop/new.py and try again.

answered May 12, 2011 at 18:58

samplebias

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2 Comments

drbunsen Over a year ago

this worked! thanks a million samplebias! lesson learned, do not tangle with reserved words!!!!

samplebias Over a year ago

No sweat, I think all Python-ers run into this sooner or later, e.g. you start picking generic names for modules, like string or xml and run into trouble when they conflict.

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