call Python script from stata do file

[Neo Zhou]

Dear all,

This is a technical question. Imagine I have a python script called "test.py". I know that I can type python in the command and type out my python script line by line. But this "test.py" is long, I was wondering how to call this python script from stata's do file. I did the following in a stata do file, but apparently, it does not work.

cd "my_path"
python test.py

[Jared Greathouse]

I will post my code when I'm home from the orthodontist office, but, to run a full python script in your do file, I believe you do

python: filename(arguments)

I could be wrong here (not thinking straight due to tooth pain), but I believe this is it.

[Bjarte Aagnes]

help python

[Neo Zhou]

help python

OK. Nice, I forgot the help function.
Another issue, the following is my do file:

clear all
cd "my_path"
set python_exec "my_python_path"
python script test.py

Everytime I rerun this do file, I got error "Python has been initialized. You need to restart Stata to set the Python executable"
Is there solution to this issue? Thanks.

[Joseph Coveney]

Doesn't Stata read your Python installation & executable path from your operating system's environmental variables? If so, then you shouldn't usually need to set the executable path, absence some special requirement regarding Python version.

Show what you get from the following.

local executables : dir "my_path" files "*.exe"
foreach executable of local executables {
    display in smcl as result "`executable'"
}

You should see python.exe somewhere in that listing, at least if you using Windows. If not, then you're misleading Stata about where Python is installed on your machine.

[Joseph Coveney]

Sorry, that should have been

local executables : dir "my_python_path" files "*.exe"

You can also check

python search

in order to see whether the path that you've specified is among those listed.

[Bjarte Aagnes]

python set exec should be run once before any python code. Rerunning your code, in the same session, will give the error you see. capture noi python set exec may be used as quick fix.

[Neo Zhou]

python set exec should be run once before any python code. Rerunning your code, in the same session, will give the error you see. capture noi python set exec may be used as quick fix.

Yes, I see. capture noi does not work. I guess I have to end the current session if I want to rerun the do file.