> Hi, I am new to Python and though I have been able to > download the 3.6 version on my laptop , I still have > issues with the syntax. While writing a program to > execute, it will display syntax error with different > shades of color usually green or yellow.
Which IDE (aka: fancy text editor) are you using to write this code? > What can I do about this? About what? (!) Do you want to change the colors of the syntax hilighting? (2) Do you want to know how to prevent or fix syntax errors? (3) Something else entirely? Unfortunately last weekend i had to pawn my crystal ball to payoff the vig, (it seems my financier is not the type to just "fuggetaboutit") so i'm afraid you'll have to be a _little_ more specific when asking questions. But seriously. :-) Syntax hilighting is used by some editors to help a programmer differentiate between certain elements of code. And this hilighting can be very helpful to the beginner. > How do I know the error and effect it? Oh, you'll know when you make a mistake, because Python will throw an error message. For instance, if you type "aaa" (without the quotes) at the Python command prompt, you'll receive a message that looks similar to this: Traceback (most recent call last): File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module> aaa NameError: name 'aaa' is not defined This one is easy to diagnose. But in order to understand Python exception messages you need to read some tutorials. If you think you can start writing code (even Python code) without some sort of "guide", then you're going to have a real difficult time. Even folks with prior programming experience need a guide. I imagine it would be like a delivery driver moving from Paris to London and trying to navigate around the streets of Merry ol' London using a map of Paris. It's just not practical. > Can't it be programmed like we have in excel that will tell > you error and prompt you if you wish to accept the right > formula format? By utilizing Python, or any other programming language that is available (and boy, there are quite a few of them!), you can program your computer to do just about anything you want. Maybe you could even write a real life HAL5000! But if you're expecting that your experience with Micrcosoft Excel formulas will translate over into Python, well, then, you're in a tough time. Excel is a "single purpose software" whereas Python is a "general purpose programming language". Using Python, you could write a spreadsheet program like Excel. Although I wouldn't suggest it, as there are already tons of them freely available, and Python is not the best language for something like that, and Microsoft would not be too happy about it. But you could do it if you were so inclined. My advice is that you visit the Python.org website and look through the list of tutorials for absolute beginners. After completing a few of these tutorials, you should be off and running in no time. Here is link: https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/NonProgrammers After clicking the link, skip down to the section titled "Tutorials and Websites", and start with "One Day of IDLE Toying". IDLE is a "fancy text editor" that ships with Python, and this tutorial is very gentle on beginners. After you have finished "One Day of IDLE Toying", my next suggestion would be "A Byte of Python", which will introduce you to some basics. From there, you can go through all the other tutorials. When you have finished all the beginner tutorials, then take a stab at the advanced section. Here is a link https://wiki.python.org/moin/BeginnersGuide/Programmers And don't forget, Google is a programmers best friend. Who surprisingly, hardly ever complains. Which unfortunately, is something i cannot say for the women i have known. But i digress! O;-) -- https://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list