Cannot import matplotlib into Python 3

Question

I am attempting to teach myself programming and keep running into problems downloading modules I need for basic tutorials.

My latest attempt has been to get the matplotlib module into my Python 3 environment. I have tried so many different install packages and so many advice I found on the internet that I cannot remember how I originally got the module. But it seemed that everything went well with the installation process.

I am using a Raspberry Pi2 throughout all of this with the Raspbian OS installed.

Python 3.2.3 (default, Mar  1 2013, 11:53:50)
[GCC 4.6.3] on linux2
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
>>> import matplotlib
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
    import matplotlib
ImportError: No module named matplotlib

"But it seemed that everything went well with the installation process"--> If you're getting an error, then no, it didn't go well. Try reinstalling and write here how you're installing. — tglaria
– tglaria, Commented Dec 9, 2015 at 18:22
where is it I can paste a copy of my terminal window now so that I can show you? What I am attempting to paste goes over the character limit. — Matt James
– Matt James, Commented Dec 10, 2015 at 18:48

spac3nerd · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-09 18:24:49Z

3

It may be possible that you actually installed the library for python 2. I would use pip to install the modules that you need. If you don't already have it installed, run this first command in the shell:

sudo apt-get install python3-pip

This program can be called with "pip3" or maybe "pip-3.2" in the shell.

To install mathplotlib with it, try running:

pip3 install matplotlib

or

pip-3.2 install matplotlib

That should install the Python 3 module for you.

answered Dec 9, 2015 at 18:24

spac3nerd

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6 Comments

Matt James Over a year ago

the pip-3.2 install was going through the motions and then I received a message- (Currently using distribute 0.6.24dev-r0 (/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages)) Complete output from command python setup.py egg_info: The required version of distribute (>=0.6.28) is not available, install a more recent version first, using 'easy_install -U distribute'. (Currently using distribute 0.6.24dev-r0 (/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages)) ---------------------------------------- Command python setup.py egg_info failed with error code 2 in /home/pi/build/matplotlib

Matt James Over a year ago

i attempted to copy paste the complete text on my terminal into this box, but was over characters. Should I put this into the "Answer Your Question Box"?

spac3nerd Over a year ago

Try running the 'easy_install -U distribute' command and see if that fixes it. Run it as root with sudo or while logged in as root.

Matt James Over a year ago

im not sure what you mean by rpi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo easy_install -U distribute sudo: easy_install: command not found pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo easy_install -U distribute sudo: easy_install: command not found pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo 'easy_install -U distribute' sudo: easy_install -U distribute: command not found pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo easy_install-U distribute sudo: easy_install-U: command not found pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo easy_install-U distribute sudo: easy_install-U: command not found pi@raspberrypi ~ $ sudo easy_install -u distribute sudo: easy_install: command not found

Matt James Over a year ago

im not sure what you mean by run it as root. I'm guessing im in the root directory due to the ~ being in the prompt line?

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