Using Scrapy with Windows Powershell - powershell

Question

I'm unable to use scrapy commands via the Windows Powershell however I can use it via python using execute from scrapy.cmdline.
When I type anything beginning with scrapy, the 'open with' dialogue window pops up asking which program I'd like to use to open the file 'scrapy', which contains the following:
#!C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Enthought\Canopy32\User\Scripts\python.exe
from scrapy.cmdline import execute
execute()
I've tried:
adding a . ahead of scrapy as suggested here
adding python ahead of commands suggested here
all of the above in cmd instead of PS
When I use scrapy through the Python interpreter everything functions correctly, does anybody have any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong? Thanks.
I'm using PS version 2.0, Python 2.7.6 on Windows 7.

Answer 1

I'm guessing you have c:\Python27\Scripts\ folder in your PATH environment variable ($env:PATH to find out) - depends on your Python version, of course, it may be in that Enthought Canopy folder path, for instance.
When you type scrapy, Windows is finding the scrapy file (which you don't know exists, and that's why you say "there aren't any files") and trying to run it, but can't because it has no extension.
You are prompted to open it in a program, and you choose a text editor, and see the content (because there is a file). Instead you could choose to open it with Python - e.g. browsing to the C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Enthought\Canopy32\User\Scripts\python.exe file and choosing that. Or c:\python27\python.exe if you have that.
To fix it without having to choose a file, you need to specify both where the Python interpreter is and where the scrapy file is, e.g.
python scrapy startproject myproject has to become something like
C:\Python27\python.exe C:\Python27\Scripts\scrapy startproject C:\Users\username\Documents\projects\myproject
(You will have to find out where Python.exe and scrapy are on your system. I am deliberately ignoring the Enthought path you show because I don't know anything about how it installs, and what folders it uses).
Edit: I suggest not changing the PATH because it might unintentionally break other things, and instead creating a wrapper for the scrapy launcher:
Rename Scripts\scrapy to Scripts\scrapy-helper
Create a file named Scripts\scrapy.bat with the content
C:\Python27\python.exe c:\Python27\Scripts\scrapy-helper %*
With the correct paths for your system. When you type scrapy at the command prompt, Windows/PowerShell will find it, run it as a batch file, call the right Python to run the right scrapy script, and pass any parameters you used through to Python.