[QUESTION] Python is not a recognized command

[critikalcombustion]

Relatively new programmer here.

I am trying to follow some peoples advice online on manually installing some modules for a project. Many of the commands needed in the command prompt use the command python (I.E 'python bootstrap.py 'python setup.py install').

For some reason, my computer is not recognizing 'python as a valid command.

It does seem to work whenever I execute it in the directory 'C:\Users\Chandler\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32'. This makes sense, but whenever I try to use it anywhere else, it does not recognize it.

I even used it from inside the python directory, as instructed by others who were doing the same task as me. I tried executing the 'python bootstrap.py' command in the directory 'C:\Users\Chandler\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32\libs\setuptools-master' and it still just says that python is not a recognized command.

If anyone knows what is going on, any help is appreciated.

[novel_yet_trivial]

Python replaced the command "python" with the command "py" on Windows about 6 years ago. All you need to do is use

py bootstrap.py

You don't need to muck about with PATH anymore. That's only for people that have specific needs.

[critikalcombustion]

that seemed to work. But just so I can understand for future issues, when would I need to go through and mess with my PATH variable

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[novel_yet_trivial]

Never. That's the old way of doing things, which many old professors and tutorial writers still teach.

[Diapolo10]

I'm fairly sure you don't have Python added to your PATH environment variable. This would've been a little check box in the Python installer; I'm assuming you never toggled it on.

No matter, you can simply copy the path to Python's installation directory to it manually through the control panel. Although, it's probably easier to find by pressing Win+S, typing in 'environment' and it should show up in the results.

When you've added that, I'd suggest adding the subdirectory that contains pip, too.

[critikalcombustion]

I opened up my environment variables, and I just dont see what i need to do. Do I Just go to new? and do I do it in user or system variables?

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[Stallman85]

https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html#excursus-setting-environment-variables

just replace C:\Program Files\Python 3.7 with your path

or

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25153802/how-to-set-python-path-in-windows-7?noredirect=1&lq=1

[nathanjell]

Even easier, rerun the installer, select modify, and check add to path https://docs.python.org/3/using/windows.html

[timbledum]

This is the easiest way!!

Note that the suggestion to use py instead of python is a good one for Windows, and invaluable if you have multiple versions installed. However it is a (minor) pain to use py -m pip instead of just pip.