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I have been trying for the past two hours to understand what I'm doing wrong. I am just starting off in Python and I can't wrap my head around a few basic things.

I am using:
* Python 2.7.8
* Windows Powershell

This is my error: 

>>> python ex1
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    python ex1
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

One thing to note, I've noticed if I force Python to start through a file, it unexpectedly closes. Could this be an administration issue?

I do not know how to do a traceback, or when I try it in Powershell, it gives me an error.

I fixed my silly error: I was using using Python in Powershell, instead of just using the command line. I also made an error in notepad++ - I accidentally had 2 spaces in Line 1 and 2 that I didn't catch.

Thank you for the help!

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  • EX1 is the file i've created using notepad++ I am trying to run python by running what I have written in notepad ++ ^ Commented Aug 5, 2014 at 5:16
  • Run python ex1 from Powershell directly. Don't open up a Python session and then try to run python ex1 from there. Commented Aug 5, 2014 at 5:32
  • @user2357122 i get PS C:\Users\$\project> python ex1.py. File "ex1.py.", line 1 print "Hello World!" ^ IndentationError: unexpected indent PS C:\Users\$\project> Commented Aug 5, 2014 at 5:41
  • @Pcurry Hi, May I ask why the edit was needed? Some of these just seem to be personal things you dont like, rather than grammatical? Commented Aug 5, 2014 at 6:15
  • @Invention I capitalize the proper nouns in questions and answers, which I believe is correct grammar, as well as being more readable to me. Capitalizing 'I' is correct grammar, and so I fixed that. The rest of the layout changes I thought made it easier to read, and clearer what you were saying. If I have offended in my changes, I apologize. Commented Aug 6, 2014 at 8:27

2 Answers 2

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3

You are trying to run ex1.py from python shell I think,

Because >>> is prompt for python shell. Please try to do that from command prompt.

I got same error when I tried from python shell.

root@localhost $ python
pythPython 2.7.3 (default, Feb 27 2014, 19:58:35)
[GCC 4.6.3] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> python ex1
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    python ex1
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>>

Please try

root@localhost $ python ex1.py
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5 Comments

Hi! I continue to get the same error. I am trying it in Windows powershell
SyntaxError: invalid syntax >>> root@localhost $ python ex1.py File "<stdin>", line 1 root@localhost $ python ex1.py ^ SyntaxError: invalid syntax
what is content in ex1.py?
maybe this will help, learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ex1.html This is where i'm getting it from. I am using this as a tutorial
Never mind! I found my error! I am a silly string of issues! I apologize. while trying to fix my error, I made a few others as well. in PowerShell I turned python on, instead of simply doing it in the command line and in notepad I accidentally put an space in line 1 and 2. that took 2 hours just for something as simple as that! Thank you for the help
1

I think you should try executing the file in cmd and not in REPL

I was getting the same error but now I tried doing the same on cmd it worked for me!

>>> notepad mybasic.py
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    notepad mybasic.py
            ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Do not go inside REPL by typing python + enter rather than work on cmd.

C:\Users\Neha\IIEC_python>notepad mybasics.py

C:\Users\Neha\IIEC_python>python mybasics.py
Hii Neha
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