Using live-py with Abaqus' python distribution

Hello again,

Disclamer: I wrote this before having read the built in Emacs documentation.

System information

• Windows 10
• System Python: Python 2.7.13 :: Anaconda 4.3.1 (64-bit)
• GNU Emacs 25.1.1 (x86_64-w64-mingw32) of 2016-11-15
• Spacemacs v.0.200.9
• live-py-mode-20170429.2207
• Abaqus 2017
• abaqus python --version gives 2.7.3

Overview

I’d like to use Live-py with Abaqus’ python distribution. The documentation is usually comprehensive.

I’ve tried various things, probably in all the ways they were not intended. Not sure if this can be done in Live-py, but I’d really like to give it a shot.

I’ll try to provide any other debug information that may be useful.

Step 1: live-py-set-version with python interpreter and arguments

Using M-x live-py-set-version, I was able to specify a custom python interpreter.

To run Python applications in an Abaqus context, the command abaqus python can be used; thus if I want to run my own_script.py, I execute abaqus python own_script.py in a terminal. I then have access to the custom Abaqus imports that allows me to interact with FEM models and analysis results. The abaqus command resolves to the batch script C:\SIMULIA\Commands\abaqus.bat on my system, which starts C:\SIMULIA\CAE\2017\win_b64\code\bin\ABQLauncher.exe with any arguments list (eg python own_script.py passed through). The executable then again passes control to a bundled python.exe, after doing some magic that allows me to access the API. I haven’t been able to load the API on a python.exe of my choosing without going through this magic executable.

When I M-x live-py-set-version "c:/SIMULIA/Commands/abaqus.bat python", I get this in the preview Window:

'"c:/SIMULIA/Commands/abaqus.bat python"' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

• Is it possible to specify arguments to the Python interpreter used with live-py?

Step 2: Custom batch script that wraps arguments

1. I create apyth.bat in the same directory as own_script.py containing

   "C:\SIMULIA\Commands\abaqus.bat" python %*
   

2. I set my M-x live-py-set-version to apyth, and it seems to be getting a little further:

   d:\workspace\python>"C:\SIMULIA\Commands\abaqus.bat" python "c:/Users/thlhe/.emacs.d/elpa/live-py-mode-20170429.2207/code_tracer.py" -f "d:/workspace/python/abaqus_live.py" - abaqus_live python 
   Traceback (most recent call last):
     File "c:/Users/thlhe/.emacs.d/elpa/live-py-mode-20170429.2207/code_tracer.py", line 23, in <module>
       arg = locate('ast.arg')
     File "C:\SIMULIA\CAE\2017\win_b64\tools\SMApy\python2.7\lib\pydoc.py", line 1471, in locate
       nextmodule = safeimport(join(parts[:n+1], '.'), forceload)
     File "C:\SIMULIA\CAE\2017\win_b64\tools\SMApy\python2.7\lib\pydoc.py", line 310, in safeimport
       raise ErrorDuringImport(path, sys.exc_info())
   pydoc.ErrorDuringImport: problem in ast.arg - <type 'exceptions.ImportError'>: No module named arg
   

3. Seems like the locate function behaves differently with the two python interpreters, returning None on Anaconda Python 2.7 and throwing an error with Abaqus Python 2.7:

Step 3: Attempting to fix the locate issue

I tried modifying the beginning of code_tracer.py to this to wrap the error:

import pydoc # no longer import the locate function
import sys
import traceback
import types
import os
import importlib

from canvas import Canvas
from mock_turtle import MockTurtle
from report_builder import ReportBuilder

# Instead, wrap it in a try-catch
def locate(*args, **kwargs):
    try:
        return pydoc.locate(*args, **kwargs)
    except ImportError:
        return None

But I still kept getting the same error. My suspect is my lack of understanding plugin internals.

Summary

1. Trying to specify which abaqus interpreter to use was a little clunky, especially with command line arguments. live-py-set-version may be the wrong function to use? Is there a better way?
2. I’d like feedback on how to fix the error with locate.

Ideas?

[donkirkby]

I noticed the same thing on Ubuntu when specifying a virtualenv or Python 3, so I’ve opened issue #123.

Thanks for letting me know that the interpreter arguments are working.

[donkirkby]

I added the live-py-set-args command (C-c M-a). You should be able to set the version to abaqus and the args to python.