How to convert py file to exe file wherein I have imported ansys.dpf.core library version 0.16.1

Question

I have a python script wherein I have imported library "ansys.dpf.core". The code works fine when I run python file but when I convert it to exe file and the run it , it gives an error error: " File "pyimod03_ctypes.py", line 53, in __init__ File "ctypes\__init__.py", line 462, in __init__ FileNotFoundError: Could not find module 'C:\Users\somawom\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI00007cb82\ansys\dpf\gatebin\DPFClientAPI.dll' (or one of its dependencies). Try using the full path with constructor syntax. The above exception was the direct cause of the following exception: Traceback (most recent call last): File "ansys\dpf\gate\load_api.py", line 192, in _try_load_api File "ansys\dpf\gate\generated\capi.py", line 24, in load_api File "ctypes\__init__.py", line 543, in LoadLibrary File "pyimod03_ctypes.py", line 55, in __init__ pyimod03_ctypes.install..PyInstallerImportError: Failed to load dynlib/dll 'C:\Users\somawom\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI00007cb82\ansys\dpf\gatebin\DPFClientAPI.dll'. Most likely this dynlib/dll was not found when the application was frozen. During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred: Traceback (most recent call last): File "Nodal_values_extraction_Plastic.py", line 142, in File "ansys\dpf\core\model.py", line 74, in __init__ server = dpf.core._global_server() File "ansys\dpf\core\server.py", line 110, in _global_server start_local_server(as_global=True) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "ansys\dpf\core\server.py", line 302, in start_local_server server = server_type( ansys_path, ...<3 lines>... context=context, ) File "ansys\dpf\core\server_types.py", line 1163, in __init__ super().__init__(ansys_path=ansys_path, load_operators=load_operators) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "ansys\dpf\core\server_types.py", line 746, in __init__ self._client_api_path = load_api.load_client_api(ansys_path=ansys_path) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ File "ansys\dpf\gate\load_api.py", line 239, in load_client_api File "ansys\dpf\gate\load_api.py", line 215, in _try_load_api NotADirectoryError: Unable to locate the directory containing DPF at "C:\Users\xxxx\AppData\Local\Temp\_MEI00007cb82\ansys\dpf\gatebin""

James Derrick · Answer

Hi @Omkar_Somawar! So this behaviour has a bit to do with how PyInstaller actually works. Essentially, Python can't be compiled like other languages and so whenever you run a PyInstaller-created executable it actually unpacks the whole Python program into a temporary directory location, dependencies and all, and runs your program from that directory. And if it does not unpack your program in exactly the right structure and format then it will break and probably give a nonsensical error whilst it's at it. The one you're getting here relates to the fact that it seems that pydpf uses compiled C code in its operations as .dll s which are not automatically collected by PyInstaller when "compiling".

See

https://pyinstaller.org/en/stable/spec-files.html#adding-data-files

for details on how to gather them.

Personally I wouldn't advise using PyInstaller because it has all sorts of issues like this that make working with it a huge pain. Some cybersecurity products will even block PyInstaller exes from running at all, and will do so silently, so your program never works and never explains why. A better approach would be to package your code into a .whl and bundle it with a .bat or .ps1 file which sets up a virtual environment, installs your tool, and runs it, for the user. Ideally you'd provide the ability to uninstall as well. This essentially apes PyInstaller but gives you the power to dictate how exactly it works when running and the ability to troubleshoot should things go wrong as well as a more general versatility.

Although, I appreciate this approach would be a lot more work.