Process to convert simple Python script into Windows executable

I wrote a script that will help a Windows user in her daily life. I want to simply send her the .exe and not ask her to install python, dlls or have to deal with any additional files.

I've read plenty of the stackoverflow entries regarding compiling Python scripts into executable files. I am a bit confused as there are many options but some seem dated (no updates since 2008) and none were simple enough for me not to be asking this right now after a few hours spent on this.

I'm hoping there's a better, up-to-date way to do this.

I looked into:

• pylunch
• py2exe
• cx_Freeze
• py2app (only for Mac)
• pyinstaller
• bbfreeze

but either I couldn't get them to work or couldn't understand how to get the result I need. The closest I got was with py2exe but it still gave me the MSVCR71.dll

I would appreciate a step-by-step answer as I was also unable to follow some of the tweaking answers here that require some prior understanding of how to use py2exe or some of the other tools.

I'm using Python 2.5 as one of the modules is only available for that version.

PyInstaller will create a single-file executable if you use the --onefile option (though what it actually does is extracts then runs itself).

There's a simple PyInstaller tutorial here. If you have any questions about using it, please post them...

Using py2exe, include this in your setup.py:

from distutils.core import setup
import py2exe, sys, os

sys.argv.append('py2exe')

setup(
    options = {'py2exe': {'bundle_files': 1}},
    windows = [{'script': "YourScript.py"}],
    zipfile = None,
)

then you can run it through command prompt / Idle, both works for me. Hope it helps

i would recommend going to http://sourceforge.net/projects/py2exe/files/latest/download?source=files to download py2exe. Then make a python file named setup.py. Inside it, type

from distutils.core import setup
import py2exe
setup(console=['nameoffile.py'])

Save in your user folder Also save the file you want converted in that same folder

Run window's command prompt type in setup.py install py2exe

It should print many lines of code...

Next, open the dist folder.

Run the exe file.

If there are needed files for the program to work, move them to the folder

Copy/Send the dist folder to person.

Optional: Change the name of the dist folder

Hope it works!:)

I would join @Nicholas in recommending PyInstaller (with the --onefile flag), but be warned: do not use the "latest release", PyInstaller 1.3 -- it's years old. Use the "pre-release" 1.4, download it here -- or even better the code from the svn repo -- install SVN and run svn co http://svn.pyinstaller.org/trunk pyinstaller.

As @Nicholas implies, dynamic libraries cannot be run from the same file as the rest of the executable -- but fortunately they can be packed together with all the rest in a "self-unpacking" executable that will unpack itself into some temporary directory as needed; PyInstaller does a good job at this (and at many other things -- py2exe is more popular, but pyinstaller in my opinion is preferable in all other respects).

1. Get py2exe from here, according to your Python version.

2. Make a file called "setup.py" in the same folder as the script you want to convert, having the following code:

> from distutils.core import setup > import py2exe > setup(console=['myscript.py']) #change 'myscript' to your script

3. Go to command prompt, navigate to that folder, and type:

> python setup.py py2exe

4. It will generate a "dist" folder in the same folder as the script. This folder contains the .exe file.

you may want to see if your app can run under IronPython. If so, you can compile it to an exe http://www.codeplex.com/IronPython

You can create executable from python script using NSIS (Nullsoft scriptable install system). Follow the below steps to convert your python files to executable.

• Download and install NSIS in your system.

• Compress the folder in the .zip file that you want to export into the executable.

• Start NSIS and select Installer based on ZIP file. Find and provide a path to your compressed file.

• Provide your Installer Name and Default Folder path and click on Generate to generate your exe file.

• Once its done you can click on Test to test executable or Close to complete the process.

• The executable generated can be installed on the system and can be distributed to use this application without even worrying about installing the required python and its packages.

For a video tutorial follow: How to Convert any Python File to .EXE

You could create an installer for you EXE file by:

1. Press WinKey + R
   
2. Type "iexpress" (without quotes) into the run window
   
3. Complete the wizard for creating the installation program.
   
4. Distribute the completed EXE.