[Tutor] some things work in IDLE but not a command prompt and vice versa

[Alan Gauld]

On 24/04/14 00:14, Martin wrote:

> If I run from a command prompt, however, I get
>
> C:\Users\Martin\Documents\College\python>python pickle.py

You have called your file pickle.py.
So when you try to import pickle the interpreter sees your file first 
and imports that not the library pickle.

Never name your files the same as modules in the standard
library, or at least not the same as something you import.

>      pickle.dump(contents,file2,True)
> AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'dump'


> I get the opposite problem with themsvcrt.getch() function.  It works OK
> when run from a command prompt, but under IDLE it returns immediately
> without waiting for a key-press, with value b'\xff'.  Is this just a
> feature of the IDLE?

I'd never noticed that particular quirk before but you are correct. I 
get the same behaviour on win8.1 with Python 3.3. I also get the same 
behaviour using Pythonwin (which is generally a much better IDE if you 
are on Windows BTW!)

I'm not sure why they behave differently to the command line but most 
IDEs have slight oddities like this. If in doubt use the command line 
version as your reference.

HTH
-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alangauldphotos