PyInstaller + UI Files - FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory:
Another method, tested on Ubuntu 20.04 is to add the .ui
file to the data
section in the spec file. First generate a spec file with pyinstaller --onefile hello.py
. Then update the spec file and run pyinstaller hello.spec
.
a = Analysis(['hello.py'],
...
datas=[('mainwindow.ui', '.')],
...
The next step is to update the current directory in your Python file. To do this, the os.chdir(sys._MEIPASS)
command has to be used. Wrap it in a try-catch for development use when _MEIPASS is not set.
import os
import sys
# Needed for Wayland applications
os.environ["QT_QPA_PLATFORM"] = "xcb"
# Change the current dir to the temporary one created by PyInstaller
try:
os.chdir(sys._MEIPASS)
print(sys._MEIPASS)
except:
pass
from PySide2.QtUiTools import QUiLoader
from PySide2.QtWidgets import QApplication
from PySide2.QtCore import QFile, QIODevice
if __name__ == "__main__":
app = QApplication(sys.argv)
ui_file_name = "mainwindow.ui"
ui_file = QFile(ui_file_name)
if not ui_file.open(QIODevice.ReadOnly):
print(f"Cannot open {ui_file_name}: {ui_file.errorString()}")
sys.exit(-1)
loader = QUiLoader()
window = loader.load(ui_file)
ui_file.close()
if not window:
print(loader.errorString())
sys.exit(-1)
window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())
You can simply use:
uic.loadUi(r'E:\Development\Python\your_ui.ui', self)
Use the full path, and use pyinstaller with standard arguments, and it works fine. The r
prefix makes sure the backslashes are interpreted literally.
After scratching my head all weekend and looking further on SO, I managed to compile the standalone .exe as expected using the UI files.
Firstly, I defined the following function using this answer
Bundling data files with PyInstaller (--onefile)
# Define function to import external files when using PyInstaller.
def resource_path(relative_path):
""" Get absolute path to resource, works for dev and for PyInstaller """
try:
# PyInstaller creates a temp folder and stores path in _MEIPASS
base_path = sys._MEIPASS
except Exception:
base_path = os.path.abspath(".")
return os.path.join(base_path, relative_path)
Next I imported the .UI files using this function and variables for the required classes.
# Import .ui forms for the GUI using function resource_path()
securitySearchForm = resource_path("securitySearchForm.ui")
popboxForm = resource_path("popbox.ui")
Ui_MainWindow, QtBaseClass = uic.loadUiType(securitySearchForm)
Ui_PopBox, QtSubClass = uic.loadUiType(popboxForm)
I then had to create a resource file (.qrc) using Qt Designer and embed images/icons using this resource file. Once done, I used pyrcc4 to convert the .qrc file to .py file, which would be imported in the main script.
Terminal
C:\Users\giranm\PycharmProjects\PyQt Tutorial>pyrcc4 -py3 resources.qrc -o resources_rc.py
Python
import resources_rc
Once I have confirmed the main .py script works, I then created a .spec file using PyInstaller.
Terminal
C:\Users\giranm\PycharmProjects\PyQt Tutorial>pyi-makespec --noconsole --onefile secSearch_demo.py
As per PyInstaller's guide, I've added data files by modifying the above .spec file.
https://pythonhosted.org/PyInstaller/spec-files.html#adding-data-files
Finally, I then compiled the .exe using the .spec file from above.