Python in VSCode: Set working directory to python file's path everytime

Question

So I want to migrate from Spyder to VSCode, and I come across this problem where I cannot access a dataset as my working directory is not the same as the dataset's path.

launch.json is not auto-generated for me as I'm not debugging anything (I tried this).

How do I set the working directory to always be the dir of the Python file I want to run, in VSCode? (and if it's bad practice, could you show me a config that is easy to work with?) I'd like to set this up for VSCode's IPython terminal.

That configuration you linked should achieve that, have you tried it? did it work? — bracco23, Jun 26 '19 at 15:46
@bracco23 I don't know how to set it up. Is it under .vscode folder in root directory? — Fawwaz Yusran, Jun 26 '19 at 22:51
did you figure this out without having to modify the debugging launch.json? I literally just want to run a python script and have it execute in the folder it resides in...I thought this was pretty basic? — Derek Eden, Apr 27 '20 at 14:34

score 13 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 11 '20 at 18:40

13

I think the setting you need is here:

File > Preferences > Settings > Python > Data Science > Execute in File Dir

answered Jun 11 '20 at 18:40

brch

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"cwd": "${fileDirname}" in launch.json did not work for me. But this did. Now current working directory is set to the file location. Thank you! – Jake Sep 09 '20 at 13:33
Is there a way to do this for Debug as well? – Shep Bryan May 07 '22 at 18:46

score 10 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 21 '21 at 20:14

Updated Solution: working as of 21/1/2021

Option 1:

Locate and open the user settings file:
- Windows %APPDATA%\Code\User\settings.json
- macOS $HOME/Library/Application Support/Code/User/settings.json
- Linux $HOME/.config/Code/User/settings.json
Add this line: "python.terminal.executeInFileDir": true

Option 2:

Open the Settings editor:
- On Windows/Linux - File > Preferences > Settings
- On macOS - Code > Preferences > Settings
- or use the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl+,).
Check the following box:
- Extensions > Python > Terminal: Execute In File Dir.
- or use the Search bar and type this setting id python.terminal.executeInFileDir.

Sounds good in theory but it doesn't work. Shift+Enter still launches python in my home dir instead of the script dir. — Fizz, Feb 11 '22 at 12:32

score 7 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 04 '20 at 14:08

7

You can find more details on the launch.json setting file in the Visual Studio Code User Guide, included how to create one and what it means.

In short, you should be able to just create a launch.json file a .vscode subfolder of the directory you usually open with Open Worspace and paste the snippet provided by the other answer. If you find that it doesn't work, you can try changing the cwd option going from this:

            "cwd": "${fileDirname}"

to this

            "cwd": ""

edited Aug 04 '20 at 14:08

Aren Cambre

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answered Jun 26 '19 at 15:45

bracco23

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`"cwd": ""` was the magic fix for me, thanks… – ptim May 24 '21 at 07:00
…actually, also required me to manually `cd` into `$fileDirname` before running the script with `"console": "integratedTerminal"` – ptim May 24 '21 at 07:08

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Jan 24 '22 at 09:42

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Updated Solution working as of 24th of January 2022

It can be changed in the Settings menu. Go to File > Preferences > Settings and Search for "Execute in File Path". You will find a option which is called:

Python > Terminal: Execute In File Dir
  When executing a file in the terminal, whether to use execute in the file's directory, instead of the current open folder.

answered Jan 24 '22 at 09:42

Daniel

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Checked but it doesn't work even after restarting VSCode. Typical MSFT stuff. – Fizz Feb 11 '22 at 12:35
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Apparently you have to open the dir as a workspace in code, not just a script file https://github.com/microsoft/vscode-python/issues/1062#issuecomment-372794910 Who does that? Total rubbish. – Fizz Feb 11 '22 at 12:42
For me it was working, I'm sorry if It didn't work for you. – Daniel Feb 12 '22 at 13:13
This worked for me as well. – Portfedh Feb 13 '22 at 01:33

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered May 19 '21 at 13:22

Add the following settings to your settings.json

    "python.terminal.executeInFileDir": true,
    "code-runner.fileDirectoryAsCwd": true

To Dr. S's solution I added the "code-runner.fileDirectoryAsCwd": true setting from the Code Runner extension. The first setting sets the working directory to the python file path only if it is run in the terminal. However, the working directory will revert to the root directory if the code is run in the Output tab with CTRL+ALT+N. This may also be the reason why any settings in the launch.json file such as "cwd": "${fileDirname}" do not work, as I have tried as well. The second setting solves this, which allows you to set the working directory to the python file's path even when you choose to run code outside of the terminal.

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Feb 11 '22 at 12:45

Mind you the solutions on this page don't work unless you open the dir as a workspace in Code. If you just open the script, none of these answers work.

MSFT doesn't see this as an issue worth fixing. Because everyone on their island works in workspaces not with scripts, even with scripting languages.

Python in VSCode: Set working directory to python file's path everytime

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