How to setup Visual Studio to respect folders in the PYTHONPATH?

Question

I have a Visual Studio python project and I would like to use IntelliSense to help me when working with files from a folder I added to the User-Account PYTHONPATH. In iPython I can use tab completion for this folder without issues. However, in VisualStudio it keeps telling me that IntelliSense may be missing for the module I try to include.

Are there any settings I have to set for Visual Studio to include those folders added to PYTHONPATH?

• Visual Studio 2017
• Anaconda 4.3.0
• Windows 10

Answer 1

There is a setting in: Tools > Options > Python Tools > Ignore system-wide python path.

Although this appears to have no effect for me, I think this is the option which would do what we both want.

When using a visual studio ipython terminal

import os

print(os.environ['PYTHONPATH'])

A key error is raised, while with a normal ipython terminal outside of VS, the path is correctly printed.