Change anaconda ipython main directory

Question

I've jus installed anaconda and I see that it wants me to save my documents in my documents/python scripts

But I'd rather save everything in my dropbox for easy backups. But I also want to be able to just call scripts by their name and not the whole path. Can this be set?

Answer 1

Not sure if this is helpful, but as of 11/2/15, Anaconda 2.4.0 moved to Jupyter, which has a different method for changing the default directory

In the command line type:

jupyter notebook --generate-config

Which will create a file named jupyter_notebook_config.py in your jupyter directory (In Windows Users/USERNAME/.jupyter). To change the default directory on startup, locate the line:

c.NotebookApp.notebook_dir = u''

And put your preferred directory in the quotes.

Answer 2

By default the directory where Jupyter was started is uses as a notebook directory. There are different situations where the IPython notebook directory change is necessary.

1. To change the default notebook directory for all IPython kernel sessions:

   1.1. Open a command window and execute:

        jupyter notebook --generate-config
   

   This will generate .jupiter/jupyter_notebook_config.py file under your home directory.

   1.2. Find, un-comment and modify the following line in your jupyter_notebook_config.py to point to the desired directory:

   # c.NotebookApp.notebook_dir = ''
   

   Next time you launch IPython, it will open with the notebook directory you specified. For example, you can make D:\Sandbox to be your notebook directory:

    c.NotebookApp.notebook_dir = 'D://Sandbox'
   

2. You can specify notebook directory per kernel session.

   In my everyday work I use Anaconda and IPython notebooks from different locations, including USB sticks. This makes changing the default directory impractical. I start IPython notebook from the command line, specifying the notebook directory.

       jupyter notebook --notebook-dir="D:\Sandbox"
   

   For frequently used directories, I create a command file in the directory itself. The command launches IPython with current directory as notebook directory. Here is what it looks like in a Windows command file:

      jupyter notebook --notebook-dir="%CD%"
   

Answer 3

You can right click the Start menu shortcut and change the starting directory.

It's not as easy to change the directory used by the Launcher. I think in principle you could edit some file somewhere to change what directory it uses.