Stata and Python 3.13 virtual environment

[Janet Hill]

I have no problem using Stata 18IC with Python without an environment in Windows

. python query

    Python Settings
      set python_exec      C:\Python313\python.exe
      set python_userpath  

    Python system information
      initialized          no
      version              3.13.0
      architecture         64-bit
      library path         C:\Python313\python313.dll

. python:
----------------------------------------------- python (type end to exit) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> a = 1
>>> b = 2
>>> c = a + b
>>> c
3
>>> end
----------------------------------------------------------

However when I try to use it with a virtual environment Stata shuts down as soon as I execute python:

I have activated the virtual environment using Powershelll prior to starting the Stata session.

PS D:\StataP> .\venv313\Scripts\activate
(venv313) PS D:\StataP>

    Python Settings
      set python_exec      D:\StataP\venv313\Scripts\python.exe
      set python_userpath  

    Python system information
      initialized          no
      version              3.13.0
      architecture         64-bit
      library path         C:\Python313\python313.dll
. python:

I would be gratful for any pointers as to what I am doing wrong.

Thank you.
Janet

[Stephan Probst]

If someone with more knowledge of the topic is reading this: We're facing the exact same issue.

We have tested with Windows 11 against multiple python versions (3.9, 3.11 and 3.12) and on multiple machines. The described behaviour is the same everywhere: Stata shuts down without an error message.

When attaching a debugger to the Stata process, we could extract the following output:

The thread 15880 has exited with code 0 (0x0).
'StataSE-64.exe' (Win32): Loaded 'C:\Windows\System32\wtdccm.dll'.
'StataSE-64.exe' (Win32): Loaded 'C:\Program Files\Python311\python311.dll'.
Fatal Python error: failed to get the Python codec of the filesystem encoding

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Joseph Coveney]

I am likewise eager to hear of a resolution to this. Python 3.13.0, Stata 18.0 MP on Windows 10 Pro.

[Simon Walker]

I have the exact same issue

[Janet Hill]

I have sent a query to Technical Support and will post any replies / solutions.
Janet

[Stephan Probst]

Hi everyone,

I reached out to the STATA support and got help. The following steps fixed the problem for me:

1. Close all Stata and open a new Stata.
2. Click the menu Help --> Annoucements to open the Annoucements dialog.
3. Click the bottom-left icon and check "Disable future announcements" and then close the dialog.
4. Close Stata and reopen it and then try to set the Python executable from Stata.

[Joseph Coveney]

The following steps fixed the problem for me . . .

Yep, that works for me, too, although I didn't install a local Python executable in the virtual environment and so didn't need to do anything with python set exec. (I've installed only packages in the virtual environment and so had to only add their path via python set userpath.)

Thank you for the follow-up.

[Janet Hill]

It works for me as well. I would never of thought of disabling Annoucements. I am still in dialog with TechSupport.

Thank you for the solution.
Janet

[Zhao Xu (StataCorp)]

Hi Janet Hill,

The above problem has been fixed in our latest update (26feb2025).