Help creating a distributable

[nowthatsorignal]

CEXT-Dan pointed me to this PyRx-sample-project for trying to create an installer so that I can share my pyrx commands easily with others on my team.
I have followed through the instructions and have run into some problems once I get to the Distribution step.

The main issue I am running into is when I share the installer to my other computer for testing it says that loader.py is missing and before that I was having issues with the whl file not being found but the location was specified as the project folder, but I was able to fix that by pointing it to the installed directory. I am really having trouble understanding where to go from here cause the instructions say that build_setup.py "Creates and archive" containing those files yet it does not appear to have any code to copy them over.
I have added a line to copy the loader.py file to the archive but now the loader.lsp the next error I get which makes me really concerned that I am doing something massively wrong here cause the ReadMe says the loader.lsp is created both when running build_setup.py and setup.bat so this makes me think that I am really not understanding what is going on.

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone is willing to offer.

@gswifort thank you so much for making this sample project it was really enlightening.

[gswifort]

Were you able to clone my project and create a distribution of it without any changes?
Here are the steps that were successful (almost, I'll mention that in a moment):

After cloning, change this line to dependencies = ["cad-pyrx==2.2.19"], the current release was broken by me 🙄

(...)\PyRx>git clone https://github.com/gswifort/PyRx-sample-project.git
Cloning into 'PyRx-sample-project'...
remote: Enumerating objects: 37, done.
remote: Counting objects: 100% (37/37), done.
remote: Compressing objects: 100% (27/27), done.
remote: Total 37 (delta 4), reused 37 (delta 4), pack-reused 0 (from 0)
Receiving objects: 100% (37/37), 239.01 KiB | 4.27 MiB/s, done.
Resolving deltas: 100% (4/4), done.

(...)\PyRx>cd PyRx-sample-project

(...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>python -m venv venv

(...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>venv\Scripts\activate.bat

(venv) (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>python -V
Python 3.12.4

(venv) (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>python -m pip install -e .[dev]
Obtaining file:///C:/Users/gswi/Documents/PROGRAMY/PyRx/PyRx-sample-project
  Installing build dependencies ... done
  Checking if build backend supports build_editable ... done
 
(...)

Successfully built pyrx-sample-project
Installing collected packages: pywin32, wxpython, typing-extensions, python-dotenv, pyproject_hooks, pygments, pluggy, packaging, iniconfig, debugpy, colorama, annotated-types, typing-inspection, pytest, pydantic-core, build, pydantic, pydantic_settings, cad-pyrx, pyrx-sample-project
Successfully installed annotated-types-0.7.0 build-1.2.2.post1 cad-pyrx-2.2.20.4591 colorama-0.4.6 debugpy-1.8.15 iniconfig-2.1.0 packaging-25.0 pluggy-1.6.0 pydantic-2.11.7 pydantic-core-2.33.2 pydantic_settings-2.10.1 pygments-2.19.2 pyproject_hooks-1.2.0 pyrx-sample-project-0.1.dev5 pytest-8.4.1 python-dotenv-1.1.1 pywin32-311 typing-extensions-4.14.1 typing-inspection-0.4.1 wxpython-4.2.3

[notice] A new release of pip is available: 24.0 -> 25.1.1
[notice] To update, run: python.exe -m pip install --upgrade pip

(venv) (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>installer\build_setup.py
* Creating isolated environment: venv+pip...
* Installing packages in isolated environment:
  - setuptools >= 61.0
  - setuptools_scm>=8
* Getting build dependencies for wheel...
running egg_info
writing src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\PKG-INFO
writing dependency_links to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\dependency_links.txt
writing requirements to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\requires.txt
writing top-level names to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\top_level.txt
writing manifest file 'src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\SOURCES.txt'
* Building wheel...
running bdist_wheel
running build
running build_py
creating build\lib\pyrx_sample_project
copying src\pyrx_sample_project\cmds.py -> build\lib\pyrx_sample_project
copying src\pyrx_sample_project\rect.py -> build\lib\pyrx_sample_project
copying src\pyrx_sample_project\_version.py -> build\lib\pyrx_sample_project
copying src\pyrx_sample_project\__init__.py -> build\lib\pyrx_sample_project
running egg_info
writing src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\PKG-INFO
writing dependency_links to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\dependency_links.txt
writing requirements to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\requires.txt
writing top-level names to src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\top_level.txt
writing manifest file 'src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info\SOURCES.txt'
installing to build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel
running install
running install_lib
creating build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel
creating build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\pyrx_sample_project
copying build\lib\pyrx_sample_project\cmds.py -> build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\.\pyrx_sample_project
copying build\lib\pyrx_sample_project\rect.py -> build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\.\pyrx_sample_project
copying build\lib\pyrx_sample_project\_version.py -> build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\.\pyrx_sample_project
copying build\lib\pyrx_sample_project\__init__.py -> build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\.\pyrx_sample_project
running install_egg_info
Copying src\pyrx_sample_project.egg-info to build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\.\pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5-py3.12.egg-info
running install_scripts
creating build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel\pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5.dist-info\WHEEL
creating 'C:\Users\gswi\Documents\PROGRAMY\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project\installer\build\archive\tmp5oogw8e1\.tmp-zh72vxv6\pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5-py3-none-any.whl' and adding 'build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel' to it
adding 'pyrx_sample_project/__init__.py'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project/_version.py'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project/cmds.py'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project/rect.py'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5.dist-info/METADATA'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5.dist-info/WHEEL'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5.dist-info/top_level.txt'
adding 'pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5.dist-info/RECORD'
removing build\bdist.win-amd64\wheel
Successfully built pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5-py3-none-any.whl

7-Zip (A) 9.20  Copyright (c) 1999-2010 Igor Pavlov  2010-11-18
Scanning

Creating archive ..\archive.7z

Compressing  setup.bat
Compressing  bootstrap.py
Compressing  loader.lsp.template
Compressing  pip.ini.template
Compressing  pyrx_sample_project-0.1.dev5-py3-none-any.whl

Everything is Ok
(...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project\installer\7zSD.sfx
(...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project\installer\build\installer.cfg
(...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project\installer\build\archive.7z
        1 file(s) copied.
Installer built: (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project\installer\dist\setup.exe

(venv) (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>installer\dist\setup.exe

(venv) (...)\PyRx\PyRx-sample-project>

Then I ran zwcad and loaded the file %localappdata%\Programs\PyRx-sample-project\loader.lsp

The problem is that our project directory isn't in the Python search path, so pyrx isn't being searched for. There are two solutions:

1. Install pyrx globally as well.
2. Add our directory to the PYTHONPATH setx PYTHONPATH=%localappdata%\Programs\PyRx-sample-project\_internal;%PYTHONPATH%

Now you should be able to load the lsp file.

@CEXT-Dan, would it be possible to do this in the lsp file so that PYTHONPATH is overwritten only for that session?

[CEXT-Dan]

(setenv “PYTHONPATH“ “” ) should delete the entry

[nowthatsorignal]

is there something I can do to implement one of these options?

[gswifort]

I haven't tested it, but probably something like this at the end of the loader.lsp.template file:

(setq old_pythonpath (getenv "PYTHONPATH"))
(setenv "PYTHONPATH" (concat old_pythonpath ";{install_dir_internal}"))
(LoadPyRx)
(setenv "PYTHONPATH" old_pythonpath)

and in the bootstrap.py file fill in the {install_dir_internal} field.

[nowthatsorignal]

I tried this and concat does not appear to be a lsp command so I changed it to strcat and found that "PYTHONPATH" is NIL

I also tried just setting the path without concatenating and that did not improve the result either

[gswifort]

Ok, I'll have to test this. I'm pretty sure setting the global PYTHONPATH environment variable to the .../_internal folder will help, but that's not the final solution.

[gswifort]

Yes, I see a few bugs.. Everything worked because I tested it on the same computer.. Sorry, I must have been very tired at the time.. 😖

[gswifort]

yes, but this is definitely not a satisfactory solution

[nowthatsorignal]

gotcha just tested with powershell and worked fine on my test computer but the loader.py had to be rerun for some reason.

[nowthatsorignal]

So a lazy short term solution from a dummy.
I modified the setup.python3.12.9.bat.template file and added the following line at the end
"%global_python_exe%" -m pip install cad-pyrx
this installed successfully but for some reason my commands are not showing up and I have to load those as well
new setup.python3.12.9.bat.template is as follows

@echo off
set global_python_path=%localappdata%\Programs\Python\Python312
set global_python_exe=%global_python_path%\python.exe


if not exist "%global_python_path%" (
   curl "https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.12.9/python-3.12.9-amd64.exe" -o "python-3.12.9-amd64.exe"
   "python-3.12.9-amd64.exe" /passive AssociateFiles=0 AppendPath=1 Shortcuts=0 Include_doc=0 InstallLauncherAllUsers=0
   del "python-3.12.9-amd64.exe"     
)

"%global_python_exe%" bootstrap.py {bootstrap_args}
"%global_python_exe%" -m pip install cad-pyrx
pause

[gswifort]

but for some reason my commands are not showing up and I have to load those as well

show command line from CAD startup

[nowthatsorignal]

So I did not get it to autoload yet but here is the fresh start up and appload

Regenerating model.
AutoCAD menu utilities loaded.*Cancel*
Command:
Command:
Command:
Command: APPLOAD
loader.lsp successfully loaded.
Command:
PyRx version <2.2.22.4604.20250728> loaded:
Python Interpreter Loaded successfully! :
File loaded: C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\PyRx-sample-project\_internal\pyrx\RxLoader24.2.arxC:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\PyRx-sample-project\_internal
Command:

And here is the PYRXLOADLOG just in case that is valuable

Command: PYRXLOADLOG
Log:
PyRxLoader::getPythonVenvPath
PyRxLoader::thisModulePath c:\users\user\appdata\local\programs\pyrx-sample-project\_internal\pyrx\
PyRxLoader::getPythonVenvPath
PyRxLoader::tryFindPythonPathFromParent
PyRxLoader::tryFindPythonPathFromAppData C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312
PyRxLoader::getInstallPath C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\pyrx
PyRxLoader::getPythonVenvPath
PyRxLoader::tryFindWxPythonPath C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\wx
Fri Aug  1 09:43:44 2025
added path @ PyRxLoader::setenvpath 323 C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312
added path @ PyRxLoader::setenvpath 323 C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python312\Lib\site-packages\wx
Loading PyRx from normal condition
PyRxLoader::PyRxLoader_loader Loading, c:\users\user\appdata\local\programs\pyrx-sample-project\_internal\pyrx\PyRx24.2.arx
PyRxLoader_loader SUCCESS
Command: Specify opposite corner or [Fence/WPolygon/CPolygon]:

I suspect this issue is caused by my half asses attempt to get a "good enough" installer.

Also I added a print command to the top of the loader.py and I am not seeing the out put so I am guessing it is not running.

[CEXT-Dan]

Try this too
Download into this file into
C:\Users\XXX\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins
Unzip and launch AutoCAD

[CEXT-Dan]

The search for pyrx_onload.py is done with find file, or at least should be. you can add a search path or put it in pyrx folder as you have done. I don’t know what would be the best practice yet.

[nowthatsorignal]

everything worked on a test computer.

I am trying to figure out if there is any reasonable way to combine this embedded solution with what @gswifort came up with.

[nowthatsorignal]

Is there a way to load lisp files that I do not want to have to rewrite in python just yet. Would love to be able to include those in the install process.

[CEXT-Dan]

you can try Ed.Core.postCommand I.e.

    Ed.Core.postCommand('(load "C:/Users/Dan/Desktop/entitlement.lsp") ')

[CEXT-Dan]

Side note, if you haven’t seen it yet,

• you can call lisp functions marked with “C:” using Ed.Core.invoke
• you can create lisp callable functions in Python, see testpylisp.py

Python and Lisp can work well together, though sometimes it’s a pain to parse out the arguments