Solving the Powershell Filepath Issue in PyCharm When Running Python Scripts

If you're encountering issues with PyCharm altering your Powershell file path commands in Python, this guide provides a clear solution using absolute paths.
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Solving the Powershell Filepath Issue in PyCharm When Running Python Scripts

If you're diving into automation and scripting with Python, using Powershell commands seamlessly is crucial. However, many beginners encounter a common hurdle: When running Powershell file paths through Python in PyCharm, the commands get altered, leading to frustrating error messages. In this post, we’ll identify the problem and provide a straightforward solution to ensure your scripts run as intended.

The Problem: Altered File Paths

Imagine you’re trying to run a Powershell command to navigate to a specific directory for your project. You write the following code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

However, when you execute this code, you encounter an error message indicating that the path cannot be found, specifically pointing out an incorrect absolute path with C:\Users\cubeow\OneDrive\Desktop\OpenPoseImplementation. This happens because PyCharm appends its root path to the relative path you provided, leading to the confusion.

Key Takeaway:

The error results from using a relative path that PyCharm cannot resolve correctly in your current working directory.

The Solution: Switching to Absolute Paths

To fix this issue, you’ll want to switch from using a relative path to an absolute path. An absolute path gives the full directory layout from the root of the file system, ensuring that it is recognized regardless of your current working directory in PyCharm. Here's how you can implement this change:

Steps to Update the Path

Identify the Absolute Path:

On Windows, you can use the tilde ~ to represent your user profile directory.

For example, if your OneDrive folder is within your user profile, the path can be modified as follows:

Modify the Command:
Update your Python script to use the absolute path:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Important Note:

The command cd simply changes the current working directory. To perform additional operations after changing the directory, append PowerShell commands separated by semicolons ;. For example:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

In conclusion, the problem of Powershell file paths being altered by PyCharm can be resolved simply by using absolute paths instead of relative ones. This change can save you time and frustration, allowing your scripts to run smoothly without path-related errors. By following the steps outlined in this post, you can confidently execute Powershell commands through Python in PyCharm.

Now that you’re equipped with this knowledge, you can tackle your automation projects with ease and efficiency. Happy coding!