Using older Python 2.x while having both Python 2.x and 3.x installed on Windows

Question

I'm new to python. I've installed both Python 3.2.2 for x64 and Python 2.7 for x86 on my 64-bit windows machine. I've got some python code that are coded for python 2.x versions. But every time I try to run them by double clicking it is interpreted by python 3.x.

How do I force them to use python version 2.7, may be using some directives or using a BATCH script?

Answer 1

Going forward, the solution is to upgrade Python 3.2 to 3.3 or later and use the Python Launcher for Windows.

At the top of each Python 3 program, include the following line:

#!/usr/bin/env python3

At the top of each Python 2 program, include the following line:

#!/usr/bin/env python2

The #! part, called a shebang, indicates to Python Launcher which version of Python is desired. (It also indicates to UNIX that a program should be run with a particular interpreter instead of the shell.) The /usr/bin/env part helps locate the Python interpreter on your PATH when you run a program on UNIX. If you don't plan on using anything but Windows, you can leave it out:

#! python3

[or]

#! python2