load pyd files from a zip from embedded python

Question

I can load Python modules (.py, .pyc, .pyd) from a zip file by calling "import some_module" from a Python interpreter only after sys.path has been extended to include the zip file and only after I have run

import zipextimporter
zipextimporter.install()

The latter is required for .pyd modules.

I can also load Python .py and .pyc modules from Python embedded in C++. However, in order to also load .pyd modules from embedded Python I added

PyRun_SimpleString("import zipextimporter");

The C++ exe runs beyond this line without error. But the next command

PyRun_SimpleString("zipextimporter.install()");

gives me this error:

Why does zipextimporter.install() crash when Python is embedded?

How can I solve this?

Does it perhaps have to do with the way the C++ code is compiled? I use g++:

g++ embed-simple.cpp -IE:\Python27\include -LE:\Python27\libs -lpython27 -o embed-simple

I saw a link How to link against msvcr90.dll with mingw gcc?

Could that provide a solution? If yes, how should I adjust it, gcc-->g++, since I am running C++ code, not C.

I am running Python 2.7.2 on WinXP.

I don't get the runtime error after a clean install of Python 2.7.2, just this:

Import Error: No module named....

Would it matter the way the embedding C++ script is compiled? I used g++. I also compiled with the Intel compiler, but that gave the same runtime error. Perhaps I should try MS Visual C++.

Or use ctypes to import the pyd?

Answer 1

memimporter and zipextimporter are indeed able to load .pyd files from memory/zip-archives without unpacking them to files.

The runtimerror R6034 is caused by the fact that the VC9 runtime library must be loaded via a manifest. Running your code in Python 2.5, whic uses a different C runtime, would most probably succeed. I guess you must embed a manifest referencing the VC9 runtime library in your exe; maybe the py2exe wiki can provide some guidance.