Hi Everyone,

I'm new to Softimage and wanted to learn it's scripting language for a project I'm working on. I mainly code in Python, but as soon as i select Python in the script editor i get this error:



I understand its not finding the python scripting engine(i think), but does anyone know how to fix it? I found something about editing the registry key for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Python, but i don't even have that folder in my registry. I have the PYTHONPATH environment variable set correctly, and have the Python directory added to the Path variable as well. I think that version of python might be 32bit and I'm running Softimage 2012 64bit on Win7 64bit, but shouldn't Softimage look for/use the distribution of Python in its installation directory?
Thanks so much.

Also, sorry if this doesn't belong here.

Are you using the "Python Installed with Softimage" (it's in the Scripting Preferences)?

If you're instead using the "external" Python, did you install pywin32 as well?
Look at this older blog entry: Getting Python to show up in Softimage

Hmmm. Installing the 64bit python seemed to make it work, even thought I have "Python Installed with Softimage" checked and it shouldn't be looking outside the Softimage directory for Python. The only problem, and the reason I didn't want to install a 64bit version of Python again, is I need a 32bit version of python for when I use blender. Apparently, whichever version of Python is installed the most recent is the one that gets used. 64bit Python doesn't seem to like 32bit PyFFI, or the 64bit PyFFI for that matter, but i'll worry about that later.
Thanks for the help ^^

And if you were to install a 32 bit Python 3, which Blender supports AFAIK,
would this still conflict with your "2.6" Python x64 install?

I'm not sure if it would conflict, but i'm pretty sure i have to use Python 2.6 and Blender 2.49 because that's what the plugin was written for.
And I don't believe Blender 2.49 works with Python 3.
It's not that much of an issue really, i only use Blender a little for modding if it's something small like repositioning verts. 3DS Max doesn't tend to like that very much.

Thanks for the help though. I'd much rather have Python working in Softimage, not sure why it's not using the version in the install directory but whatever.

Ah, you're probably right, only the most recent Blender builds were made with Python 3 in mind...

I'm having a similar problem, I wanted to add a library to the python within Softimage 2012sap on Windows 7 64bit, so to add serial coms, but don't seem to be able to achieve it.
I have tried to get Soft to use an external version of python, did not work.
The external Python 3.2 updated the library no problem
I have tried changing registry key to redirect the install, but the update crashes for some strange reason and does not install the library.
I thought I may be a stupid permissions thing (windows 7 system is infuriating)so fiddled about with the folders, did not work.

why does Softimage give you the option of using an external editor if it's not possible?
Why can't I manually add libraries to python?

Surly somebody out there knows how to fix this.

If it's a library specifically written for Python 3.2, maybe there's your problem, as the built-in Softimage-Python is 2.6 AFAIK (but definitively not of the 3.x generation).
Getting an "external" Python to work in Softimage will only succeed if the Python & the corresponding pywin32 are from the 2.6+ generation, not of the 3.x generation...
Again: Getting Python to show up in Softimage

No it's the correct python and update version. I've also tried Python 2.7 64bit external version. I've tried all the solutions posted on Softimage wiki
I'm running Softimage 2012 64bit on Windows 7 64bit

From your previous post I gather you're also running Python 3.2 side by side?
Do they both (external 2.6 and 3.2) have entries in the registry?

edit: but maybe you just need this:
Installing Python modules in the Softimage Python site-packages,
which describes the procedure to add/create a registry entry for the internal Python
to use with those Python-module-installers that find "their" Python via said registry...