error: could not create '/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/xlrd': Permission denied

Question

I'm trying to install xlrd on mac 10.8.4 to be able to read excel files through python.

I have followed the instructions on http://www.simplistix.co.uk/presentations/python-excel.pdf

I did this:

1. unzipped the folder to desktop

2. in terminal, cd to the unzipped folder

3. $ python setup.py install

This is what I get:

running install running build running build_py creating build creating build/lib creating build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/__init__.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/biffh.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/book.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/compdoc.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/formatting.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/formula.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/info.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/licences.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/sheet.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/timemachine.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/xldate.py -> build/lib/xlrd copying xlrd/xlsx.py -> build/lib/xlrd creating build/lib/xlrd/doc copying xlrd/doc/compdoc.html -> build/lib/xlrd/doc copying xlrd/doc/xlrd.html -> build/lib/xlrd/doc creating build/lib/xlrd/examples copying xlrd/examples/namesdemo.xls -> build/lib/xlrd/examples copying xlrd/examples/xlrdnameAPIdemo.py -> build/lib/xlrd/examples running build_scripts creating build/scripts-2.7 copying and adjusting scripts/runxlrd.py -> build/scripts-2.7 changing mode of build/scripts-2.7/runxlrd.py from 644 to 755 running install_lib creating /Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/xlrd error: could not create '/Library/Python/2.7/site-packages/xlrd': Permission denied 

Why is permission denied? Thanks

Answer 1

Try python setup.py install --user

You shouldn't use sudo as suggested above for two reasons:

1. You're allowing arbitrary untrusted code off the internet to be run as root
2. Passing the --user flag to python setup.py install will install the package to a user-owned directory. Your normal non-root user won't be able to access the files installed by sudo pip or sudo python setup.py

Answer 2

try sudo python setup.py install

the /Library folder needs root permission to be accessed.