Install error for blpapi in python for bloomberg API

Question

I am a Bloomberg terminal user and am trying to get the API to work via Python.

I have Python 3.7.0 64-bit on my Windows 7 64-bit computer installed to: C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37

I downloaded the C/C++ Supported Release (v3.8.18.1) from the Bloomberg API Library. I unzipped contents to C:\blp\API\cpp (I am a terminal user so I already had C:\blp\API and I added a new folder "CPP").

I then installed the Python API through pip as stated at the bottom of this page: API Library Support and received a Successfully installed blpapi-3.12.2 message. I noticed this got installed to C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Lib\site-packages

In Idle I then import blpapi and I get the following errors:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 39, in swig_import_helper
return importlib.import_module(mname)
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\importlib\__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1006, in _gcd_import
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 983, in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 967, in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 670, in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 583, in module_from_spec
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1043, in create_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 219, in _call_with_frames_removed
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified procedure could not be found.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\__init__.py", line 4, in <module>
from .internals import CorrelationId
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 42, in <module>
_internals = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 41, in swig_import_helper
return importlib.import_module('_internals')
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\importlib\__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_internals'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#1>", line 1, in <module>
import blpapi
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\__init__.py", line 9, in <module>
raise debug_load_error(error)
ImportError: No module named '_internals'

Mismatch between C++ and Python SDK libraries.

Python SDK version    3.12.1
Found C++ SDK version 3.11.6.1

Download and install the latest C++ SDK from:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/professional/api-library

If a recent version of the C++ SDK is already installed, please ensure that the
path to the library is added to PATH before entering the interpreter.

I searched through answers on this site and attempted the following:

• set the 'path' variable in both "User variables for gp" and "system variables" in system properties to: C:\blp\DAPI;C:\blp\DAPI\DDE;C:\blp\API\cpp;C:\blp\API\cpp\bin (DAPI and DDE folders were already there)
• added a 'BLPAPI_ROOT' variable of: C:\blp\API\cpp in the "User variables for gp" and "system variables" in system properties
• tried placing a copy of blpapi3_64.dll from the C:\blp\API\cpp\bin folder into C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Lib\site-packages and tried placing it in subfolder "blpapi" and added those locations to the path variable mentioned above and it still did not work.
• ensured I have downloaded Visual Studio Build Tools 2017

Any other ideas?

Answer 1

The problem of mismatch comes from the fact that you need to download version 3.12 of the SDK. Currently it corresponds to the "Experimental release" (and not Supported release !) that you can find here:

https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/support/api-library/

Other remarks:

1. I advice you to download the BloombergWindowsSDK via the Bloomberg Terminal because you'll get python codes also.
2. No needs to play with system path, you can just copy and past blpapi3_64.dll blpapi3_32.dll to the same folder as the one where your python code is located.

Answer 2

Actually the clue is hidden at the end of the error message, but it wasn't entirely clear.

You need to download the Bloomberg C++ library as well. Unzip into a folder, let's call it c:\lib\blpapi_cpp_3.12.2.1

What you need to do is add c:\lib\blpapi_cpp_3.12.2.1\lib into you PATH environment variable. The important bit is to include the lib sub folder.

This solved my issue with python 3.7.

Answer 3

Solution that worked for me with Python 3.7 on Windows 10:

1/Download the Bloomberg experimental C++ 3.12 SDK from WAPI<GO> or https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/support/api-library/

2/Extract, look for the lib folder, there are four files, blpapi3_32.dll, blpapi3_32.lib, blpapi3_64.dll, blpapi3_64.lib.

3/in the windows shell I typed where blpapi3_32.dll and replaced all of these locations with the new files above. In my case it was at least C:\blp\DAPI and C:\Users\MyName\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\Library\bin\blpapi3_32.dll (you will need to close the Bloomberg desktop before overriding these files as they're used by the desktop application)

Answer 4

The problem is that you have the same libraries (DLL files) installed in the C:\blp\DAPI and the cpp folder. However, the version of these files is not the same, and that is why the error message appears. A simple fix is to copy and paste all libraries from the c:\lib\blpapi_cpp_3.12.2.1\lib folder into C:\blp\DAPI. This fixes the problem.