Python newbie - PIP / invalid syntax error

python python-2.7 pip python-dateutil
user2338676 picture user2338676 · May 1, 2013 · Viewed 40.2k times · Source

Ok, totally newbie to programming and python. Running Windows 7, python 2.7 x64. I am trying in install dateutil package using pip.

I installed pip, numpy and pandas... which were pretty straightforward as they are exe files.

I am now trying to use pip to install dateutil. In the Python Shell, I have typed:

pip install dateutil

and 

pip install python-dateutil

I continue to get "Invalid Syntax" errors at the install command. What am I doing wrong here? I have also tried this in the python command line.

I have checked my modules installed and I have both pip and easy_install. Really confused right now...I also have tried running the setup script for dateutil and I get this error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Python27\Scripts\python-dateutil-1.5.tar\python-dateutil-1.5\setup.py", line 14, in <module>
    TOPDIR = os.path.dirname(__file__) or "."
NameError: name '__file__' is not defined

Help please! Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer

Daniel Roseman picture Daniel Roseman · May 1, 2013

You don't type that in the Python shell. You type it in the command prompt (haven't used Windows for years, but it used to be called cmd).

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