PyCharm Fix Interpreter

How to "Configure Interpreter" when you use a different computer

Basic Issues

1. Make sure you have successfully created a pycharm project, if you had an error during the creation, that MUST be fixed first.
2. This issue only pops up when you switch machines while using a portable usb flash drive. If you pycharm project folder is on your laptop hard drive, this should not be a problem.
3. The main issue is that, when you use your project on a new machine, it is not SURE which python interpreter to use, so you have to tell it the right one.

Normal Steps to fix

1. click on either the "Configure Interpreter" link that shows up in a yellowish bar at the top of pycharm OR
2. Go to File->Settings Find your project folder name (Project: cis156 in this example), and choose Project Interpreter
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3. Either way, something like the following window should open up (your screen may be slightly different)
   
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4. Click on the little gear at the FAR right of the Project Interpreter: <No interpreter> line and choose add.
5. With luck, there will be something under the "Existing Environment" and you can just choose OK
   

IF PROBLEMS OCCUR

• Python Virtual Environments do not seem to like removable drives
• Also, make SURE you used PyCharm to open the PROJECT folder
• If that fails, and there is no existing interpreter, or you get a weird "SDK is Invalid" try the following steps

Last Ditch Effort to fix things

1. Click on the little ... box to the left and then the Select Python Interpreter window should open
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2. You can TRY to go to your removable drive and find the python.exe file (it will be in your PyCharmProject directory, then Venv then Scripts and finally choose python.exe
3. OTHERWISE: click on the arrow by the C: drive (assuming windows)
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4. Then choose the > Next to Program Files(x86) (we are apparently using the 32 bit version of Python?)
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5. Then you SHOULD see your python directory, open that and select the python.exe file and click OK
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6. If that does not work, time to contact your instructor. And remember, if you can create a project yourself while at home on your USB drive, that is probably the best way.

Page last updated on 20210203