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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"

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"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">

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<head>

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<title>24.6. IDLE — Python 2.7.12 documentation</title>

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var DOCUMENTATION_OPTIONS = {

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URL_ROOT: '../',

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VERSION: '2.7.12',

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COLLAPSE_INDEX: false,

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FILE_SUFFIX: '.html',

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HAS_SOURCE: true

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};

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</script>

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title="Search within Python 2.7.12 documentation"

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href="../_static/opensearch.xml"/>

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</head>

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<h3>Navigation</h3>

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<ul>

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<a href="../genindex.html" title="General Index"

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accesskey="I">index</a></li>

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<a href="../py-modindex.html" title="Python Module Index"

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>modules</a> |</li>

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<a href="othergui.html" title="24.7. Other Graphical User Interface Packages"

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accesskey="N">next</a> |</li>

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<a href="turtle.html" title="24.5. turtle — Turtle graphics for Tk"

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accesskey="P">previous</a> |</li>

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<li><img src="../_static/py.png" alt=""

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style="vertical-align: middle; margin-top: -1px"/></li>

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<li><a href="https://www.python.org/">Python</a> »</li>

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<li>

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<a href="../index.html">Python 2.7.12 documentation</a> »

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</li>

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<li class="nav-item nav-item-1"><a href="index.html" >The Python Standard Library</a> »</li>

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<li class="nav-item nav-item-2"><a href="tk.html" accesskey="U">24. Graphical User Interfaces with Tk</a> »</li>

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</ul>

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</div>

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<p id="index-0">IDLE is Python’s Integrated Development and Learning Environment.</p>

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<p>IDLE has the following features:</p>

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<li>coded in 100% pure Python, using the <code class="xref py py-mod docutils literal"><span class="pre">tkinter</span></code> GUI toolkit</li>

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<li>cross-platform: works mostly the same on Windows, Unix, and Mac OS X</li>

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<li>Python shell window (interactive interpreter) with colorizing

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of code input, output, and error messages</li>

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<li>multi-window text editor with multiple undo, Python colorizing,

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smart indent, call tips, auto completion, and other features</li>

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<li>search within any window, replace within editor windows, and search

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through multiple files (grep)</li>

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<li>debugger with persistent breakpoints, stepping, and viewing

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of global and local namespaces</li>

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<li>configuration, browsers, and other dialogs</li>

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</ul>

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<h2>24.6.1. Menus<a class="headerlink" href="#menus" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>

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<p>IDLE has two main window types, the Shell window and the Editor window. It is

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possible to have multiple editor windows simultaneously. Output windows, such

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as used for Edit / Find in Files, are a subtype of edit window. They currently

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have the same top menu as Editor windows but a different default title and

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context menu.</p>

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<p>IDLE’s menus dynamically change based on which window is currently selected.

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Each menu documented below indicates which window type it is associated with.</p>

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<h3>24.6.1.1. File menu (Shell and Editor)<a class="headerlink" href="#file-menu-shell-and-editor" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dd>Create a new file editing window.</dd>

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<dd>Open an existing file with an Open dialog.</dd>

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<dt>Recent Files</dt>

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<dd>Open a list of recent files. Click one to open it.</dd>

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<dt>Open Module...</dt>

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<dd>Open an existing module (searches sys.path).</dd>

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</dl>

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<dt>Class Browser</dt>

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<dd>Show functions, classes, and methods in the current Editor file in a

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tree structure. In the shell, open a module first.</dd>

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<dt>Path Browser</dt>

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<dd>Show sys.path directories, modules, functions, classes and methods in a

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tree structure.</dd>

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<dd>Save the current window to the associated file, if there is one. Windows

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that have been changed since being opened or last saved have a * before

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and after the window title. If there is no associated file,

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do Save As instead.</dd>

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<dd>Save the current window with a Save As dialog. The file saved becomes the

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new associated file for the window.</dd>

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<dd>Save the current window to different file without changing the associated

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file.</dd>

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<dt>Print Window</dt>

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<dd>Print the current window to the default printer.</dd>

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<dt>Close</dt>

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<dd>Close the current window (ask to save if unsaved).</dd>

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<dd>Close all windows and quit IDLE (ask to save unsaved windows).</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.2. Edit menu (Shell and Editor)<a class="headerlink" href="#edit-menu-shell-and-editor" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dd>Undo the last change to the current window. A maximum of 1000 changes may

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be undone.</dd>

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<dd>Redo the last undone change to the current window.</dd>

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<dd>Copy selection into the system-wide clipboard; then delete the selection.</dd>

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<dd>Copy selection into the system-wide clipboard.</dd>

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<dt>Paste</dt>

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<dd>Insert contents of the system-wide clipboard into the current window.</dd>

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</dl>

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<p>The clipboard functions are also available in context menus.</p>

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<dt>Select All</dt>

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<dd>Select the entire contents of the current window.</dd>

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<dd>Open a search dialog with many options</dd>

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<dt>Find Again</dt>

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<dd>Repeat the last search, if there is one.</dd>

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<dt>Find Selection</dt>

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<dd>Search for the currently selected string, if there is one.</dd>

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<dt>Find in Files...</dt>

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<dd>Open a file search dialog. Put results in a new output window.</dd>

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<dt>Replace...</dt>

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<dd>Open a search-and-replace dialog.</dd>

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<dd>Move cursor to the line number requested and make that line visible.</dd>

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<dt>Show Completions</dt>

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<dd>Open a scrollable list allowing selection of keywords and attributes. See

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Completions in the Tips sections below.</dd>

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<dt>Expand Word</dt>

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<dd>Expand a prefix you have typed to match a full word in the same window;

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repeat to get a different expansion.</dd>

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<dd>After an unclosed parenthesis for a function, open a small window with

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function parameter hints.</dd>

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<dt>Show surrounding parens</dt>

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<dd>Highlight the surrounding parenthesis.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.3. Format menu (Editor window only)<a class="headerlink" href="#format-menu-editor-window-only" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>Indent Region</dt>

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<dd>Shift selected lines right by the indent width (default 4 spaces).</dd>

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<dt>Dedent Region</dt>

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<dd>Shift selected lines left by the indent width (default 4 spaces).</dd>

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<dt>Comment Out Region</dt>

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<dd>Insert ## in front of selected lines.</dd>

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<dt>Uncomment Region</dt>

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<dd>Remove leading # or ## from selected lines.</dd>

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<dt>Tabify Region</dt>

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<dd>Turn <em>leading</em> stretches of spaces into tabs. (Note: We recommend using

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4 space blocks to indent Python code.)</dd>

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<dt>Untabify Region</dt>

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<dd>Turn <em>all</em> tabs into the correct number of spaces.</dd>

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<dt>Toggle Tabs</dt>

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<dd>Open a dialog to switch between indenting with spaces and tabs.</dd>

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<dt>New Indent Width</dt>

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<dd>Open a dialog to change indent width. The accepted default by the Python

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community is 4 spaces.</dd>

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<dt>Format Paragraph</dt>

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<dd>Reformat the current blank-line-delimited paragraph in comment block or

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multiline string or selected line in a string. All lines in the

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paragraph will be formatted to less than N columns, where N defaults to 72.</dd>

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<dt>Strip trailing whitespace</dt>

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<dd>Remove any space characters after the last non-space character of a line.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<span id="index-2"></span><h3>24.6.1.4. Run menu (Editor window only)<a class="headerlink" href="#run-menu-editor-window-only" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>Python Shell</dt>

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<dd>Open or wake up the Python Shell window.</dd>

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<dt>Check Module</dt>

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<dd>Check the syntax of the module currently open in the Editor window. If the

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module has not been saved IDLE will either prompt the user to save or

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autosave, as selected in the General tab of the Idle Settings dialog. If

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there is a syntax error, the approximate location is indicated in the

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Editor window.</dd>

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<dt>Run Module</dt>

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<dd>Do Check Module (above). If no error, restart the shell to clean the

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environment, then execute the module. Output is displayed in the Shell

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window. Note that output requires use of <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">print</span></code> or <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">write</span></code>.

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When execution is complete, the Shell retains focus and displays a prompt.

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At this point, one may interactively explore the result of execution.

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This is similar to executing a file with <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">python</span> <span class="pre">-i</span> <span class="pre">file</span></code> at a command

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line.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.5. Shell menu (Shell window only)<a class="headerlink" href="#shell-menu-shell-window-only" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>View Last Restart</dt>

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<dd>Scroll the shell window to the last Shell restart.</dd>

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<dt>Restart Shell</dt>

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<dd>Restart the shell to clean the environment.</dd>

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<dt>Interrupt Execution</dt>

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<dd>Stop a running program.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.6. Debug menu (Shell window only)<a class="headerlink" href="#debug-menu-shell-window-only" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dd>Look on the current line. with the cursor, and the line above for a filename

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and line number. If found, open the file if not already open, and show the

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line. Use this to view source lines referenced in an exception traceback

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and lines found by Find in Files. Also available in the context menu of

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the Shell window and Output windows.</dd>

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</dl>

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<dt>Debugger (toggle)</dt>

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<dd>When actived, code entered in the Shell or run from an Editor will run

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under the debugger. In the Editor, breakpoints can be set with the context

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menu. This feature is still incomplete and somewhat experimental.</dd>

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<dt>Stack Viewer</dt>

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<dd>Show the stack traceback of the last exception in a tree widget, with

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access to locals and globals.</dd>

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<dt>Auto-open Stack Viewer</dt>

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<dd>Toggle automatically opening the stack viewer on an unhandled exception.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.7. Options menu (Shell and Editor)<a class="headerlink" href="#options-menu-shell-and-editor" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>Configure IDLE</dt>

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<dd><p class="first">Open a configuration dialog and change preferences for the following:

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fonts, indentation, keybindings, text color themes, startup windows and

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size, additional help sources, and extensions (see below). On OS X,

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open the configuration dialog by selecting Preferences in the application

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menu. To use a new built-in color theme (IDLE Dark) with older IDLEs,

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save it as a new custom theme.</p>

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<p class="last">Non-default user settings are saved in a .idlerc directory in the user’s

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home directory. Problems caused by bad user configuration files are solved

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by editing or deleting one or more of the files in .idlerc.</p>

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</dd>

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<dt>Code Context (toggle)(Editor Window only)</dt>

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<dd>Open a pane at the top of the edit window which shows the block context

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of the code which has scrolled above the top of the window.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.8. Window menu (Shell and Editor)<a class="headerlink" href="#window-menu-shell-and-editor" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>Zoom Height</dt>

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<dd>Toggles the window between normal size and maximum height. The initial size

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defaults to 40 lines by 80 chars unless changed on the General tab of the

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Configure IDLE dialog.</dd>

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</dl>

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<p>The rest of this menu lists the names of all open windows; select one to bring

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it to the foreground (deiconifying it if necessary).</p>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.1.9. Help menu (Shell and Editor)<a class="headerlink" href="#help-menu-shell-and-editor" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<dt>About IDLE</dt>

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<dd>Display version, copyright, license, credits, and more.</dd>

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<dd>Display a help file for IDLE detailing the menu options, basic editing and

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navigation, and other tips.</dd>

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<dt>Python Docs</dt>

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<dd>Access local Python documentation, if installed, or start a web browser

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and open docs.python.org showing the latest Python documentation.</dd>

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<dt>Turtle Demo</dt>

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<dd>Run the turtledemo module with example python code and turtle drawings.</dd>

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</dl>

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<p>Additional help sources may be added here with the Configure IDLE dialog under

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the General tab.</p>

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</div>

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<span id="index-4"></span><h3>24.6.1.10. Context Menus<a class="headerlink" href="#context-menus" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<p>Open a context menu by right-clicking in a window (Control-click on OS X).

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Context menus have the standard clipboard functions also on the Edit menu.</p>

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<dd>Copy selection into the system-wide clipboard; then delete the selection.</dd>

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<dd>Copy selection into the system-wide clipboard.</dd>

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<dt>Paste</dt>

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<dd>Insert contents of the system-wide clipboard into the current window.</dd>

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</dl>

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<p>Editor windows also have breakpoint functions. Lines with a breakpoint set are

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specially marked. Breakpoints only have an effect when running under the

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debugger. Breakpoints for a file are saved in the user’s .idlerc directory.</p>

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<dt>Set Breakpoint</dt>

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<dd>Set a breakpoint on the current line.</dd>

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<dt>Clear Breakpoint</dt>

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<dd>Clear the breakpoint on that line.</dd>

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</dl>

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<p>Shell and Output windows have the following.</p>

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<dd>Same as in Debug menu.</dd>

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</dl>

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</div>

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</div>

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<h2>24.6.2. Editing and navigation<a class="headerlink" href="#editing-and-navigation" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>

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<p>In this section, ‘C’ refers to the <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Control</span></code> key on Windows and Unix and

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the <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Command</span></code> key on Mac OSX.</p>

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<ul>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Backspace</span></code> deletes to the left; <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Del</span></code> deletes to the right</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-Backspace</span></code> delete word left; <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-Del</span></code> delete word to the right</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first">Arrow keys and <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Page</span> <span class="pre">Up</span></code>/<code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Page</span> <span class="pre">Down</span></code> to move around</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-LeftArrow</span></code> and <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-RightArrow</span></code> moves by words</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Home</span></code>/<code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">End</span></code> go to begin/end of line</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-Home</span></code>/<code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-End</span></code> go to begin/end of file</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first">Some useful Emacs bindings are inherited from Tcl/Tk:</p>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-a</span></code> beginning of line</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-k</span></code> kill line (but doesn’t put it in clipboard)</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-l</span></code> center window around the insertion point</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-b</span></code> go backwards one character without deleting (usually you can

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also use the cursor key for this)</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-f</span></code> go forward one character without deleting (usually you can

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also use the cursor key for this)</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-p</span></code> go up one line (usually you can also use the cursor key for

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this)</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-d</span></code> delete next character</li>

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</ul>

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</div></blockquote>

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</li>

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</ul>

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<p>Standard keybindings (like <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-c</span></code> to copy and <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-v</span></code> to paste)

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may work. Keybindings are selected in the Configure IDLE dialog.</p>

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<h3>24.6.2.1. Automatic indentation<a class="headerlink" href="#automatic-indentation" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<p>After a block-opening statement, the next line is indented by 4 spaces (in the

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Python Shell window by one tab). After certain keywords (break, return etc.)

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the next line is dedented. In leading indentation, <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Backspace</span></code> deletes up

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to 4 spaces if they are there. <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Tab</span></code> inserts spaces (in the Python

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Shell window one tab), number depends on Indent width. Currently tabs

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are restricted to four spaces due to Tcl/Tk limitations.</p>

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<p>See also the indent/dedent region commands in the edit menu.</p>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.2.2. Completions<a class="headerlink" href="#completions" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<p>Completions are supplied for functions, classes, and attributes of classes,

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both built-in and user-defined. Completions are also provided for

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filenames.</p>

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<p>The AutoCompleteWindow (ACW) will open after a predefined delay (default is

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two seconds) after a ‘.’ or (in a string) an os.sep is typed. If after one

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of those characters (plus zero or more other characters) a tab is typed

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the ACW will open immediately if a possible continuation is found.</p>

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<p>If there is only one possible completion for the characters entered, a

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<code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Tab</span></code> will supply that completion without opening the ACW.</p>

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<p>‘Show Completions’ will force open a completions window, by default the

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<code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-space</span></code> will open a completions window. In an empty

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string, this will contain the files in the current directory. On a

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blank line, it will contain the built-in and user-defined functions and

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classes in the current name spaces, plus any modules imported. If some

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characters have been entered, the ACW will attempt to be more specific.</p>

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<p>If a string of characters is typed, the ACW selection will jump to the

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entry most closely matching those characters. Entering a <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">tab</span></code> will

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cause the longest non-ambiguous match to be entered in the Editor window or

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Shell. Two <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">tab</span></code> in a row will supply the current ACW selection, as

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will return or a double click. Cursor keys, Page Up/Down, mouse selection,

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and the scroll wheel all operate on the ACW.</p>

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<p>“Hidden” attributes can be accessed by typing the beginning of hidden

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name after a ‘.’, e.g. ‘_’. This allows access to modules with

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<code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">__all__</span></code> set, or to class-private attributes.</p>

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<p>Completions and the ‘Expand Word’ facility can save a lot of typing!</p>

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<p>Completions are currently limited to those in the namespaces. Names in

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an Editor window which are not via <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">__main__</span></code> and <a class="reference internal" href="sys.html#sys.modules" title="sys.modules"><code class="xref py py-data docutils literal"><span class="pre">sys.modules</span></code></a> will

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not be found. Run the module once with your imports to correct this situation.

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Note that IDLE itself places quite a few modules in sys.modules, so

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much can be found by default, e.g. the re module.</p>

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<p>If you don’t like the ACW popping up unbidden, simply make the delay

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longer or disable the extension.</p>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.2.3. Calltips<a class="headerlink" href="#calltips" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<p>A calltip is shown when one types <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">(</span></code> after the name of an <em>acccessible</em>

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function. A name expression may include dots and subscripts. A calltip

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remains until it is clicked, the cursor is moved out of the argument area,

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or <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">)</span></code> is typed. When the cursor is in the argument part of a definition,

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the menu or shortcut display a calltip.</p>

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<p>A calltip consists of the function signature and the first line of the

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docstring. For builtins without an accessible signature, the calltip

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consists of all lines up the fifth line or the first blank line. These

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details may change.</p>

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<p>The set of <em>accessible</em> functions depends on what modules have been imported

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into the user process, including those imported by Idle itself,

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and what definitions have been run, all since the last restart.</p>

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<p>For example, restart the Shell and enter <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">itertools.count(</span></code>. A calltip

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appears because Idle imports itertools into the user process for its own use.

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(This could change.) Enter <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">turtle.write(</span></code> and nothing appears. Idle does

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not import turtle. The menu or shortcut do nothing either. Enter

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<code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">import</span> <span class="pre">turtle</span></code> and then <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">turtle.write(</span></code> will work.</p>

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<p>In an editor, import statements have no effect until one runs the file. One

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might want to run a file after writing the import statements at the top,

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or immediately run an existing file before editing.</p>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.2.4. Python Shell window<a class="headerlink" href="#python-shell-window" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<ul>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-c</span></code> interrupts executing command</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-d</span></code> sends end-of-file; closes window if typed at a <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">>>></span></code> prompt</p>

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</li>

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<li><p class="first"><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Alt-/</span></code> (Expand word) is also useful to reduce typing</p>

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<p>Command history</p>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Alt-p</span></code> retrieves previous command matching what you have typed. On

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OS X use <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-p</span></code>.</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Alt-n</span></code> retrieves next. On OS X use <code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">C-n</span></code>.</li>

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<li><code class="kbd docutils literal"><span class="pre">Return</span></code> while on any previous command retrieves that command</li>

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</ul>

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</li>

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</ul>

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</div>

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<h3>24.6.2.5. Text colors<a class="headerlink" href="#text-colors" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<p>Idle defaults to black on white text, but colors text with special meanings.

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For the shell, these are shell output, shell error, user output, and

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user error. For Python code, at the shell prompt or in an editor, these are

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keywords, builtin class and function names, names following <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">class</span></code> and

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<code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">def</span></code>, strings, and comments. For any text window, these are the cursor (when

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present), found text (when possible), and selected text.</p>

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<p>Text coloring is done in the background, so uncolorized text is occasionally

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visible. To change the color scheme, use the Configure IDLE dialog

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Highlighting tab. The marking of debugger breakpoint lines in the editor and

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text in popups and dialogs is not user-configurable.</p>

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</div>

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</div>

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<h2>24.6.3. Startup and code execution<a class="headerlink" href="#startup-and-code-execution" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h2>

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<p>Upon startup with the <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">-s</span></code> option, IDLE will execute the file referenced by

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the environment variables <span class="target" id="index-5"></span><code class="xref std std-envvar docutils literal"><span class="pre">IDLESTARTUP</span></code> or <span class="target" id="index-6"></span><a class="reference internal" href="../using/cmdline.html#envvar-PYTHONSTARTUP"><code class="xref std std-envvar docutils literal"><span class="pre">PYTHONSTARTUP</span></code></a>.

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IDLE first checks for <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">IDLESTARTUP</span></code>; if <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">IDLESTARTUP</span></code> is present the file

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referenced is run. If <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">IDLESTARTUP</span></code> is not present, IDLE checks for

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<code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">PYTHONSTARTUP</span></code>. Files referenced by these environment variables are

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convenient places to store functions that are used frequently from the IDLE

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shell, or for executing import statements to import common modules.</p>

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<p>In addition, <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">Tk</span></code> also loads a startup file if it is present. Note that the

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Tk file is loaded unconditionally. This additional file is <code class="docutils literal"><span class="pre">.Idle.py</span></code> and is

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looked for in the user’s home directory. Statements in this file will be

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executed in the Tk namespace, so this file is not useful for importing

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functions to be used from IDLE’s Python shell.</p>

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<h3>24.6.3.1. Command line usage<a class="headerlink" href="#command-line-usage" title="Permalink to this headline">¶</a></h3>

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<div class="highlight-none"><div class="highlight"><pre><span></span>idle.py [-c command] [-d] [-e] [-h] [-i] [-r file] [-s] [-t title] [-] [arg] ...

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-c command run command in the shell window

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-d enable debugger and open shell window

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-e open editor window

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-h print help message with legal combinations and exit

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