cannot open manage.py after installing django

Mel picture Mel · Mar 21, 2016 · Viewed 50.2k times · Source

I have a problem in setting up django.

My situation: I have Anaconda Python 2.7 in my Windows 8 computer. On the Anaconda command prompt window, I type: pip install django. This is successful.

Then I create a folder named "newproject". On the command prompt I went to the folder "newproject". Then django-admin.py startproject newproject. This is successful.

Then I run python manage.py runserver. It tells me

"...can't open file 'manage.py': [Errno 2] No such file or directory"

I checked out udemy django installation guide and other guides on the net. I have even set up a virtual environment. But the main problem is always: can't open file 'manage.py'

Answer

rnevius picture rnevius · Mar 21, 2016

You're not in the proper directory...In the case you described, you should have:

  1. mkdir newproject (not sure why you're doing this...but we'll continue with it)
  2. cd newproject
  3. django-admin.py startproject newproject
  4. cd newproject ← A key missing part from what you did. You need to change into the directory where manage.py resides. Verify it by using ls at the command prompt after switching into the directory.
  5. python manage.py runserver

Use ls often, if you need, to double check where you are in the directory tree.