How to get Python location using Windows batch file?

Question

I need to create a windows batch script which creates and moves one specific file to PYTHONPATH\Lib\distutils folder.

Here is what I am attempting to do:

ECHO [build] >> distutils.cfg
ECHO compiler=mingw32 >> distutils.cfg
MOVE distutils.cfg PYTHONPATH\Lib\distutils

However, PYTHONPATH does not exist but I know that Python location is set in PATH which I can check. How can I parse PATH and extract Python location from it?

No, `PYTHONPATH` does not exist. To be honest, I don't know a Python installer that creates it. Windows based Python installers all add Python location to `PATH`. — minerals, Jan 05 '16 at 19:21

score 12 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 05 '16 at 19:22

12

Since python is in your PATH you can use function where, which is a Windows analogue of Linux whereis function:

> where python.exe

See details here. You can set output of where command to a variable and then use it (see this post).

answered Jan 05 '16 at 19:22

vrs

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score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 05 '16 at 19:25

7

If you have only one python instance, you can try this:

@ECHO OFF
FOR /f %%p in ('where python') do SET PYTHONPATH=%%p
ECHO %PYTHONPATH%

answered Jan 05 '16 at 19:25

ashwinjv

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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 05 '16 at 21:42

Why search for python.exe using WHERE when you know the answer? It's in the path env var! So all you need to do is scan the %path% var. It can be done like this:

echo %path% | split ; | find /i "python"

OK, here you need the split prog, but it's easily made (in C or batch) and you need it anyway.

How to get Python location using Windows batch file?

3 Answers3