Run python script in IPython with inline / embedded plots

Question

I'd like to have a batch file in one folder with a python script. The batch file should call the script in IPython and plot the figures inline / embedded. Though there is lots of info on this around, I failed getting this to work.

• How to run a python script with IPython, showing plots embedded?
• Do I need to use pylab or can I just import matplotlib.pyplot in the script?
• Do I have to adapt anything else in the script?
• Is %pylab inline / %matplotlib inline to be used or not?

The latter commands give

In [1]: %pylab inline
UsageError: Invalid GUI request u'inline', valid ones are:[None, 'osx', 'qt4', 
'glut',   'gtk3', 'pyglet', 'wx', 'none', 'qt', 'gtk', 'tk']
In [2]: %matplotlib inline 
UsageError: Invalid GUI request u'inline', valid ones are:  [None, 'osx', 'qt4',
'glut', 'gtk3', 'pyglet', 'wx', 'none', 'qt', 'gtk', 'tk']`

Up to now I tried the following (luckless)

ipython --pylab=inline example_plots.py

Gives me the following and quits

E:\CD\package\bin>ipython --pylab=inline example_plots.py
WARNING: 'inline' not available as pylab backend, using 'auto' instead.
WARNING: 'inline' not available as pylab backend, using 'auto' instead.

or from console it runs but as usual with figures popping up (and closing right away):

E:\CD\package\bin>ipython --pylab=inline example_plots.py
WARNING: 'inline' not available as pylab backend, using 'auto' instead.
WARNING: 'inline' not available as pylab backend, using 'auto' instead.
Using matplotlib backend: Qt4Agg
# runs python script as usual (not inline)

Following How to make IPython notebook matplotlib plot inline
With the batch file (and the same with the console):

ipython notebook --pylab inline example_plots.py
2014-01-26 17:52:10.101 [NotebookApp] Using existing profile dir: u'C:\\Users\\Robert\\.ipython\\profile_default'
2014-01-26 17:52:10.111 [NotebookApp] Using MathJax from CDN: http://cdn.mathjax.org/mathjax/latest/MathJax.js
2014-01-26 17:52:10.127 [NotebookApp] Serving notebooks from local directory: E:\CD\package\bin
2014-01-26 17:52:10.128 [NotebookApp] The IPython Notebook is running at: http://127.0.0.1:8888/
2014-01-26 17:52:10.128 [NotebookApp] Use Control-C to stop this server and shut down all kernels (twice to skip confirmation).

Opens an empty notebook and thats it.

What else should I try?

Python 2.7.5 (default, May 15 2013, 22:43:36) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)]
IPython 1.1.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python.

Answer 1

Greg answered it here:
Start ipython qtconsole as interactive interpreter after script execution

It works using the -m flag

ipython qtconsole --matplotlib inline -m example_plots

or

ipython qtconsole --pylab inline -m example_plots

But I do not know, what makes the difference between those two options pylab inline and matplotlib inline. From here I figure, that I'd rather use --matplotlib inline

Even adding the file ending it does what I want to, but it complains about unknown failure after execution.

pyplot.show(block=True) will give and unknown failure, too

Answer 2

How to run a python script with IPython, showing plots embedded?

• You need to use the qt console.
• Run ipython qtconsole <yourscript.py>.
• If you have jupyter installed, the better.
• Run jupyter qtconsole <yourscript.py>

Do I need to use pylab or can I just import matplotlib.pyplot in the script?

• Run %matplotlib inline prior to importing matplotlib.pyplot.

Is %pylab inline / %matplotlib inline to be used or not?

• Yes. But pylab has been depreciated. Use %matplotlib inline.