Re: IDLE can't be opened

[returning the discussion to the list]

On Jun 17, 2015, at 09:31, Petr Tvrdik <[email protected]> wrote:
>> On Jun 16, 2015, at 6:37 PM, Ned Deily <[email protected]> wrote:
>> In article <[email protected]>,
>> Petr Tvrdik <[email protected]> wrote:
>>> I have installed Python IDLE from https://www.python.org/downloads/
>>> 
>>> When I launch the IDLE program I get the error message "The application IDLE 
>>> can't be opened."
>>> 
>>> However, the application WORKS IN ANOTHER ACOUNT on the same machine (Macbook 
>>> Pro, mid 2010, updated to Yosemite 10.10.3)
>>> 
>>> I have also installed the latest ActiveTcl (buildno 298892) (which is the one 
>>> recommended for the OS 
>>> [ActiveTcl8.5.18.0.298892-macosx10.5-i386-x86_64-threaded.dmg]
>>> 
>>> What can I do to make this work? Possible interference with another tkinter? 
>>> From this or the other login account?
>> [...]

>> Nevertheless, a few suggestions: you didn't say which version of Python 
>> you installed and are trying to use (the currently supported versions 
>> are 3.4.3 and 2.7.10).  Each will install its own version of IDLE.  When 
>> you launch IDLE by double-clicking on its icon in an 
>> /Applications/Python x.x folder, many error messages that might be 
>> generated during launch are not displayed directly to you, rather they 
>> go into system logs that can be views with the Console app.  However, it 
>> is easier to see the errors if you try to start IDLE directly from 
>> within a terminal sesssion, for example with Terminal app.  If you used 
>> the install defaults, try typing either:
>> 
>> /usr/local/bin/idle3.4
>> or
>> /usr/local/bin/idle2.7
>> 
>> and see what happens.  There are sometimes problems due to values set in 
>> IDLE's per-user preference files.  You can remove them before launching 
>> IDLE by typing in the terminal session:
>> 
>> rm -r ~/.idlerc
> Thank you for your input. I have uninstalled and reinstalled Python2.7 and Python3.4 and ActiveTCL (the recommended version 8.5.18)
> 
> Now, when I type idle2.7 in my /usr/local/bin/idle2.7, idle window opens with warning:Tcl/Tk 8.5.9 in use is unstable (attached).
> 
> when I type idle3.4, I get this: -bash: idle3.4: command not found
> 
> Is it possible that something got mis-wired in my shell scripts?

From the attached screenshots, the IDLE that you have launched is the one included with the OS X system Python (2.7.6), not the latest from python.org and that explains why you get the "8.5.9 in use" warning.  I suspect you didn't enter the full path as I suggested above; in the shell window, type the full path "/usr/local/bin/idle2.7" not just "idle2.7".  That should ensure that the correct IDLE launches and then, if it still fails, you can see why.  You could then also try launching a new terminal window and see whether just typing "idle2.7" gives you the newer version; if not, you may need to adjust your shell startup scripts.  The Python installer should have done that by default.

--
  Ned Deily
  [email protected] -- []