Python IDEs (PyScripter,PythonWin) crashing when installed with ArcGIS for Desktop?

Question

I am learning Python, so here is a real newbie question!

Everything writen in ArcGis Python's windows is working fine. The same lines, correctly writen in an IDE, when run, are crashing it.

Working on ArcGis 10.2 using Python 2.7.5, 32 bits, Windows 7

IDE:

PythonWin32 (pywin32-218.win32-py2.7)
PyScripter (PyScripter-v2.5.3-Setup.exe)

For PyScripter I get a message Windows Error "python.exe is not working" followed by aPyScripter message: "EOFError: [Errno 10054] An existing connection was forcibly closed by the remote host" . Internet searches didn't get an answer I could understand.

For PythonWin, it just stops and crashs.

Installations path are as followed (by default): Python 27: C:\

PythonWin: C:\Python27\ArcGIS10.2\Lib\site-packages\pythonwin

PyScripter: C:\Program Files (x86)\PyScripter

I suppose these issues have been met before and solve... So what I am missing here? some other packages or libraries? What would you advice me to use to script in Python?

For info my lines are:

import arcpy

from arcpy import env

env.workspace = "D:/_PYTHON/Python/Data/Exercise07"

fc = "Results/airports.shp"

delimfield = arcpy.AddFieldDelimiters(fc, "STATE")

cursor = arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(fc, ["STATE"], delimfield + " = 'AK'")

for row in cursor:

    row[0] = "AK2"

cursor.updateRow(row)

del row

del cursor

Answer 1

You start your question by saying:

I am learning Python, so here is a real newbie question!

and then describe your install of two Python IDEs (PyScripter and PythonWin) in addition to another IDE (IDLE) that installs as part of the Python that gets installed by ArcGIS for Desktop.

When learning any new software my recommendation is to keep your install as vanilla as possible. That way when something goes wrong there are far less places to look for its cause.

In this case I would uninstall PyScripter, PythonWin, ArcGIS for Desktop, and any vestiges of Python 2.7 and perform a simple reinstall of ArcGIS for Desktop.

This will give you access to a robust, easy-to-use and highly functional IDE in IDLE that I use for all my Python work with no problems.

After seeing how easy it is to work with IDLE as your IDE for a while, then by all means, if you think you need something more sophisticated try PyScripter, PythonWin, or other Python IDEs one at a time because by then you'll know how easy it should be to use a Python IDE based on your IDLE experience and have something to benchmark their install and use against.