- 1 year ago
How to bundle together data files for converting python scripts to exe using py2exe?
To bundle data files with your Python scripts when using Py2exe to convert them into an executable file, you can follow these steps:
Organize your project structure: Create a directory in your project specifically for storing the data files that need to be bundled. For example, you could create a directory called "data" and place the necessary files inside it.
Update your setup.py file: Open your setup.py file, which is used for configuring the Py2exe conversion process. Add the
data_files
option to thesetup()
function call to specify the data files you want to bundle. Here's an example:pythonfrom distutils.core import setup
import py2exe
data_files = [('data', ['data/file1.txt', 'data/file2.txt'])]
setup(
windows=['your_script.py'],
options={'py2exe': {'bundle_files': 1}},
data_files=data_files,
zipfile=None
)
In this example, the
data_files
variable is a list of tuples. Each tuple consists of the target directory path (relative to the executable) and a list of source files to be included. Adjust the paths and file names according to your project structure.Build the executable: Open a command prompt or terminal and navigate to the directory containing your setup.py file. Run the following command to build the executable:
arduinopython setup.py py2exe
This command will run the Py2exe conversion process and bundle the specified data files with the resulting executable.
Verify the bundled data: After the conversion process completes, you will find the executable file along with the bundled data files in the
dist
directory.
When you distribute the resulting executable, make sure to maintain the directory structure and keep the bundled data files in the same relative location. The executable will access the data files based on the paths specified in the data_files
option.
Note: Py2exe is no longer actively maintained and may not be compatible with the latest versions of Python. Consider exploring alternative tools like PyInstaller or cx_Freeze for converting Python scripts into standalone executables, as they offer more up-to-date features and support.