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Python

Posted by majesticcat123
majesticcat123
3,020 Points

Odd syntax error when running Python file in Terminal on Mac?

So, following a tutorial from this site, I made a Python file into an executable file. However, when I run it in Terminal, I got the following odd syntax error.

[my filename and path were here] ; exit;
Enter the observation:
This works?
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "[my filename and path were here]", line 7, in <module>
    observation = input("Enter the observation:\n")
  File "<string>", line 1
    This works?
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

[Process completed]

However, when I ran my Python file in the Python Shell in IDLE, it worked just fine (and still does). My Python code is as follows. I would appreciate any help!

from datetime import *

date = datetime.now().date()
notebook = open(date.strftime("%d %B %Y (%A) Observations.txt"), "a")

while True:
    observation = input("Enter the observation:\n")
    time = datetime.now().time()
    time = time.strftime("%H:%M")

    if observation == "STOP":
        break

    if observation == "SAVE":
        notebook.close()
        notebook = open(date.strftime("%d %B %Y (%A) Observations.txt"), "a")
        continue

    notebook.write("{}    {}\n".format(time, observation))

notebook.close()

2 Answers

Jeff Muday
MOD
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,720 Points
Jeff Muday
Jeff Muday
Treehouse Moderator 28,720 Points

The syntax you are using works in Python 3.x, but you might be using Python 2.x depending on the age of your Mac.

Python 2 uses raw_input() rather than input()

majesticcat123
majesticcat123
3,020 Points

I have been getting messages saying to update things like pip, so I think you're right. I'll look into that!

majesticcat123
majesticcat123
3,020 Points
majesticcat123
majesticcat123
3,020 Points

OK then, I updated everything and found out... I needed to put them in with "quotes" to show it was a string, otherwise, it treated it like a variable name.