I know this is a little late, but I just started using Boost.Python on Windows XP, and saw the same exact problems as the original poster so I thought I should give a solution since no one else has (and I've seen the same question go unanswered elsewhere). On 11/10/2009 10:36 PM, Charles Lentz wrote:

When using boost_1_38_0\libs\python\example\tutorial, I try to import the extension that is created (hello_ext) but get the exception, ImportError: No module named hello_ext

I modify Jamroot so that the last few lines where it creates tests are commented out. When I run bjam again, hello_ext.pyd remains (previously it was being created, used for the test, and then deleted). I try to run hello.py (which is the script that the test uses) from IDLE (which comes with the installation of python) and it throws an exception for my import statement

As others note elsewhere you can instead add "--preserve-test-targets" to your bjam command line. Also adding "-d+2" lets you see more verbose output of what bjam is doing behind the scenes.

Traceback (most recent call last):

File "C:\Users\Charles\Desktop\boost_1_38_0\boost_1_38_0\libs\python\example\tuto rial\hello.py", line 6, in <module>

import hello_ext

ImportError: No module named hello_ext

Hrmm. Okay. So I move the hello.py file into the same directory as the hello_ext.pyd file. Run it again using IDLE, still get the exception

After much googling and looking at the bjam output with "-d+2" turned on, I discovered that the problem is not just with the location (and existence) of hello_ext.pyd. Not only does hello_ext.pyd have to be somewhere in your PATH (copying it to the same dir as hello.py solves that problem), but the Boost.Python dll ALSO has to be in the path. In my case I had to add C:\boost_1_42_0\stage\lib to my PATH. Of course, this is obvious after the fact. However, the error message is confusing. What it really means in this case is: Can't find boost_python-vc90-mt-1_42.dll or boost_python-vc90-mt-gd-1_42.dll. In addition the "Getting Started on Windows" page at http://www.boost.org/doc/libs/1_42_0/more/getting_started/windows.html NEVER mentions having to add C:\boost_1_42_0\stage\lib to the PATH if you compile the library yourself. I imagine this doesn't come up more often because most people initially use the pre-built binaries from BoostPro Computing, and that installer probably correctly sets the PATH. I also had problems running bjam since I had copied the tutorial to my F: drive. I was getting: Unable to load Boost.Build: could not find "boost-build.jam" --------------------------------------------------------------- Attempted search from F:\Boost\BoostPythonTutorial up to the root Changing the tutorial's jamroot file to say: use-project boost : C:/boost_1_42_0 ; didn't help. I eventually had to copy C:\boost_1_42_0\boost-build.jam to F:\Boost and comment everything out and add: boost-build C:/boost_1_42_0/tools/build/v2 ; (This last part may not have normally been necessary but I got some error message about not being able to find a dll when I first ran bootstrap.bat. I solved that problem by downloading the prebuilt version of bjam.exe) Turns out all of this is explained here: Knowledge Base/CPP/Boost Python Step By Step http://www.thalesians.com/finance/index.php/Knowledge_Base/CPP/Boost_Python_...