mirror of https://github.com/python/cpython.git
184 lines
7.2 KiB
Plaintext
184 lines
7.2 KiB
Plaintext
This message is being sent in response to your message to the Python
|
|
documentation maintainers (docs@python.org). Your message will
|
|
be handled by a human, but this message serves to answer the most
|
|
common questions sent to this address.
|
|
|
|
You will only receive this message if it has not been sent to you for
|
|
at least three months.
|
|
|
|
If your question is answered below, you may not receive an additional
|
|
message from the documentation maintainers. If you feel the answers
|
|
below are not sufficient and you do not receive an additional response
|
|
within a week, please do send a note letting us know that your
|
|
question has not been properly answered, and be specific regarding
|
|
what additional information you are looking for.
|
|
|
|
|
|
-Fred
|
|
|
|
|
|
Frequently Asked Questions about the Python Documentation
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
1. Can I download HTML/PDF/PostScript versions of the docs?
|
|
2. Where can I download Python?
|
|
3. I can't unpack a downloaded copy on Windows; what should I do?
|
|
4. I can't unpack a downloaded copy on Mac OS; what should I do?
|
|
5. What can I use Python for?
|
|
6. How do I use module/function/whatever XXX?
|
|
7. What about JPython?
|
|
8. I found a bug in the documentation, who should I tell?
|
|
9. Can I get an algorithm to do THIS in language THAT?
|
|
10. How do I decode an XXX file from my email on a YYY computer?
|
|
11. Acrobat Reader won't print the PDF. What's wrong?
|
|
12. Where can I find documentation in my native language?
|
|
13. Why is Python installed on my computer?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Answers to the Questions
|
|
------------------------
|
|
|
|
1. Can I download HTML/PDF/PostScript/<other> versions of the docs?
|
|
|
|
Yes. These are available via the Web and traditional FTP. For
|
|
Web access to the latest version, see:
|
|
|
|
http://www.python.org/doc/
|
|
|
|
For FTP access to the latest version and archives of previous
|
|
versions, see:
|
|
|
|
ftp.python.org:/pub/python/doc/
|
|
|
|
2. Where can I download Python?
|
|
|
|
You can get Python in source form and as a Windows installer
|
|
from the main Python website. You can also find information
|
|
about pre-built packages for other platforms there as well.
|
|
|
|
Downloading information at the website is at the URL:
|
|
|
|
http://www.python.org/download/
|
|
|
|
The sources and Windows installer can be downloaded from the FTP
|
|
site as well:
|
|
|
|
ftp://ftp.python.org/pub/python/
|
|
|
|
3. I can't unpack a downloaded archive on Windows; what should I do?
|
|
|
|
Make sure the archive was saved with the .tgz extension; you may
|
|
need to watch carefully when telling the browser where to save
|
|
the file, as the default may change the extension to .tar or
|
|
even .exe.
|
|
|
|
Once you're sure the file has the right extension, use a recent
|
|
version of WinZip to upack the file (version 7.0 works). Get
|
|
WinZip from:
|
|
|
|
http://www.winzip.com/
|
|
|
|
4. I can't unpack a downloaded archive on Mac OS; what should I do?
|
|
|
|
Stuffit Expander 4.5 (and probably other versions) cannot handle
|
|
the "tar" archive, although it can decompress it from the .tgz
|
|
file. Expander Enhancer, which you have to pay for, can handle
|
|
the tar archive.
|
|
|
|
5. What can I use Python for?
|
|
|
|
Python is a general purpose programming language. See the
|
|
Python home page at http://www.python.org/ for more information;
|
|
introductory material is available at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.python.org/doc/Intros.html
|
|
|
|
6. How do I use module/function/whatever XXX?
|
|
|
|
Start by reading the documentation for XXX. If the
|
|
documentation doesn't make sense or seems incomplete, please
|
|
file a specific bug report to docs@python.org (the
|
|
address you sent your question to). Otherwise, you probably
|
|
sent your question to the wrong place (which does not preclude
|
|
an answer, if I know it).
|
|
|
|
If you're looking for examples or tutorial information on how to
|
|
use a particular Python library component, check the Demo/
|
|
directory of the source distribution or Windows installation;
|
|
there might be an example. If that doesn't help, point your Web
|
|
browser to http://www.python.org/doc/ and look around; there may
|
|
be a link to some interesting examples online. After that, try
|
|
searching the Python Web site at http://www.python.org/search/.
|
|
|
|
If your question still hasn't been answered, you may send your
|
|
query to the Python newsgroup (comp.lang.python) or the mailing
|
|
list (see http://www.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list).
|
|
If you'd rather not send you message to a public forum, you can
|
|
try sending it to python-help@python.org. (This is typically
|
|
slower than sending your question to the public list, however.)
|
|
|
|
7. What about Jython and JPython?
|
|
|
|
If your question is specific to Jython or JPython, you should
|
|
consult the Jython website at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.jython.org/
|
|
|
|
Chances are very good that the person who answers questions
|
|
posted to docs@python.org doesn't use Jython very often,
|
|
and won't be able to give you a meaningful answer beyond "Look
|
|
at the Jython website." Sorry, I don't have *all* the answers!
|
|
|
|
8. I found a bug in the documentation, who should I tell?
|
|
|
|
If you're reading this, you've found the right address! Send
|
|
all documentation bug reports to docs@python.org. If
|
|
you prefer to use a Web-based reporting mechanism, you can use
|
|
the bug database at http://www.python.org/python-bugs/.
|
|
|
|
9. Can I get an algorithm to do THIS in language THAT?
|
|
|
|
If THAT is Python, look in the standard library. If THAT isn't
|
|
Python, use your favorite Internet search engine.
|
|
|
|
10. How do I decode an XXX file from my email on a YYY computer?
|
|
|
|
I really, honestly do not know. I don't even know why this
|
|
question gets asked here. Since I don't have a YYY computer,
|
|
I couldn't even try a few things out for you.
|
|
|
|
11. Acrobat Reader won't print the PDF. What's wrong?
|
|
|
|
Adobe has reportedly admitted that there is a bug Acrobat Reader
|
|
5.0 which causes it not to print at least some PDF files
|
|
generated by pdfTeX. This software is used to produce the PDF
|
|
version of the Python documentation, and our documents
|
|
definately trigger this bug in Acrobat Reader. To print the PDF
|
|
files, use Acrobat Reader 4.x, ghostscript, or xpdf.
|
|
|
|
Information on ghostscript can be found at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.ghostscript.com/
|
|
|
|
Information on xpdf can be found at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.foolabs.com/xpdf/
|
|
|
|
12. Where can I find documentation in my native language?
|
|
|
|
There is a lot of contributed documentation in languages other
|
|
than English. Some of the documents are translations of English
|
|
documents, and others were originally authored in other
|
|
languages. If we know about it, it will be listed at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.python.org/doc/NonEnglish.html
|
|
|
|
13. Why is Python installed on my computer?
|
|
|
|
We're increasingly seeing Python being installed on computers
|
|
as delivered by vendors. For more information on why, and
|
|
whether it's safe to remove, see the "Why is Python Installed on
|
|
my Computer?" FAQ, found at:
|
|
|
|
http://www.python.org/doc/faq/installed.html
|