Writing multi-line code in Python's IDLE application

Question

How do I write

   >>> x = int(raw_input("Please enter an integer: "))
    >>> if x < 0:
    ...      x = 0
    ...      print 'Negative changed to zero'
    ... elif x == 0:
    ...      print 'Zero'
    ... elif x == 1:
    ...      print 'Single'
    ... else:
    ...      print 'More'
    ...

This is in IDLE. As soon as I hit Enter after writting first line, it executes the first line and I am not able to write the full code.

Barnabe

You don't have to execute it all in one go, if you do, then use a file for multiple runs or declare a function for a single run. Even if it executes earlier than you expected, you'll still have the entered value in the x variable. – Kauslick

Answer 1

Try menu File → New File in the top menu. Then write your code in this window and run it by the F5 key (or Run in the top menu).

Formalize

Answer 2

Shift + Enter takes you to next line without executing the current line.

Percolate

This does not work. – Wilow

Answer 3

1. Use semicolons between lines

2. Try IPython

3. Write it as a function, e.g.,

    def myfunc():
        x = int(raw_input("Please enter an integer: "))
        if x < 0:
            x = 0
            print 'Negative changed to zero'
        elif x == 0:print 'Zero'
        elif x == 1:print 'Single'
        else:print 'More'
   

Metrical

Answer 4

Using the exec function along with multi-line strings (""") worked well for my particular use case:

exec("""for foo in bar:
  try:
    something()
  except:
    print('Failed')"""

Hsu

Answer 5

You can't write multi-line code in the Python console. You need a third-party application.

Marleenmarlen

Leaving my prior misconception because nobody corrected me and it has been 8 years. Maybe it is correct and the new info I have is not correct? To extend the statement to one or more lines we can use braces {}, parentheses (), square [], semi-colon “;”, and continuation character slash “\”. - geeksforgeeks.org/python-multi-line-statements – Mancuso

Answer 6

If you do File --> New File, it should open a new savable window that you can write multiple lines and save as a .py file.

Chip

Answer 7

Creating a new file enables you to write your code in multiline in IDLE and before writing the code you need to save the file as *.py format. That's all.

Cataplasia

But it isn't very interactive. – Invercargill