Pyinstaller EXE will only run from CMD, clicking on the EXE doesn't work

Question

I have made a simple python program for a friend of mine that makes use of tkinter and SMTPlib. I used pyinstaller to make an .exe for the program, but when I double click the .exe my CMD terminal will flash on the screen for a split second than disappear. When I drag that same .exe to my CMD terminal and press enter, the program runs with no issues, every feature of the program works.

I am attaching my .spec file that pyinstaller created, I have not modified it at all. I really feel like it should work, given that it 100% works if I call it from the CMD, only issues are when I double-click on the .exe. Extremely frustrating.

I have seen this same issue posted online several times, and there is no solution I have seen that has helped me. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Following the advice below I was able to get the program to run. I had to change the .spec file, specifically the datas field in order to get it to work. However I am now having a problem where the .txt files will load, but upon editing them the edits are not saved as they should be. The edits were all being saved BEFORE I fixed the original issue, when I was only able to run the program from the CMD. I am posting the entire script below:

EDIT II: I had not put the files into 'w' mode, and this is why I wasn't getting any output to the text files. All is working now!

My spec file:

block_cipher = None


a = Analysis(['test.py'],
             pathex=['C:\\Users\\wiley\\PycharmProjects\\EmailBot\\email_bot2'],
             binaries=[],
             datas=[('students1.txt', '.'),('students2.txt','.')],
             hiddenimports=[],
             hookspath=[],
             runtime_hooks=[],
             excludes=[],
             win_no_prefer_redirects=False,
             win_private_assemblies=False,
             cipher=block_cipher,
             noarchive=False)
pyz = PYZ(a.pure, a.zipped_data,
             cipher=block_cipher)
exe = EXE(pyz,
          a.scripts,
          [],
          exclude_binaries=True,
          name='test',
          debug=False,
          bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
          strip=False,
          upx=True,
          console=False )
coll = COLLECT(exe,
               a.binaries,
               a.zipfiles,
               a.datas,
               strip=False,
               upx=True,
               upx_exclude=[],
               name='test')

my main.py file:

from tkinter import *
from tkinter import ttk
import re
import email_data
import smtplib
import os

__location__ = os.path.realpath(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), os.path.dirname(__file__)))

student_view = None
email_string = ''


def display_email():
    def save_and_close():
        preview_window.destroy()

    preview_window = Toplevel()
    preview_window.title("Preview")
    preview_window.geometry('-680+300')
    preview_window.grab_set()
    preview_window.lift(root)

    preview_frame = ttk.Frame(preview_window, padding=10)
    preview = Text(preview_frame)
    close_button = Button(preview_frame, text='Close', command=save_and_close)

    preview_frame.grid()
    preview.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky='NSEW')
    close_button.grid(column=0, row=1, sticky='NSEW')

    preview.insert(END, email_string)


def format_email():
    global email_string
    email_string = email_data.email_string_raw.format(this_lab_name=t1.get(), zoom_date_time=t2.get(),
                                                      zoom_link=t3.get(),
                                                      zoom_ID=t4.get(),
                                                      zoom_passcode=t5.get(), this_lab_supplemental=t6.get(),
                                                      this_lab_consisting=t7.get(),
                                                      this_lab_due=t8.get(), file_name_tag=t9.get(),
                                                      last_lab_reminder=t10.get(),
                                                      last_lab_due=t11.get(),
                                                      last_lab_supplemental=t12.get(), last_file_name_tag=t13.get())
    view_email_button['state'] = 'normal'
    send_button['state'] = 'normal'


def send_email():
    global p, z, email_string, emails1, emails2

    def send_email_final():
        smtp_obj = smtplib.SMTP('smtp.office365.com', port=587)
        smtp_obj.starttls()
        email = email_input.get()
        password = email_pass_input.get()
        smtp_obj.login(email, password)

        from_address = email_input.get()

        msg = "Subject: CHML101: Weekly Instructional Email" + '\n\n' + email_string
        to_address_list = []
        if p.get() == 1:
            data = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students1.txt'))
            emails = data.read()
            to_address_list = emails.split('\n')
            print(to_address_list.__str__())
        elif p.get() == 2:
            data = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students2.txt'))
            emails = data.read()
            to_address_list = emails.split('\n')
            print(to_address_list.__str__())

        print(msg)
        smtp_obj.sendmail(from_address, to_address_list, msg)

    def confirm_normal():
        confirm_check['state'] = 'normal'

    def send_normal():
        if z.get() == 1:
            send_email_button['state'] = 'normal'
        else:
            send_email_button['state'] = 'disabled'

    send_email_window = Toplevel()
    send_email_window.title("Send Email")
    send_email_window.geometry('400x175-680+300')
    send_email_window.grab_set()
    send_email_window.lift(root)

    send_frame = ttk.Frame(send_email_window)
    email_label = Label(send_frame, text='Enter your email address:')
    pass_label = Label(send_frame, text='Enter your email password:')
    email_input = Entry(send_frame)
    email_pass_input = Entry(send_frame, show='*')
    class_label1 = Label(send_frame, text='Email class 1:')
    class_label2 = Label(send_frame, text='Email class 2:')
    class_radio1 = Radiobutton(send_frame, var=p, value=1, command=confirm_normal)
    class_radio2 = Radiobutton(send_frame, var=p, value=2, command=confirm_normal)
    confirm_label = Label(send_frame, text='Confirm selection:')
    confirm_check = Checkbutton(send_frame, state='disabled', variable=z, command=send_normal)
    send_email_button = Button(send_frame, text='Send Email', state='disabled', command=send_email_final)

    send_frame.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky='NSEW')
    email_label.grid(column=0, row=0, columnspan=2)
    pass_label.grid(column=2, row=0, columnspan=2)
    email_input.grid(column=0, row=1, columnspan=2)
    email_pass_input.grid(column=2, row=1, columnspan=2)
    class_label1.grid(column=0, row=2)
    class_label2.grid(column=2, row=2)
    class_radio1.grid(column=1, row=2)
    class_radio2.grid(column=3, row=2)
    confirm_label.grid(column=1, row=3)
    confirm_check.grid(column=2, row=3)
    send_email_button.grid(columnspan=2, column=1, row=4)


def class_list_view():
    global emails1, emails2, v, student_view

    def update_txt():
        items = student_view.get(0, 'end')
        if v.get() == 2:
            data1 = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students2.txt'), mode='w')
            first = True
            for item in items:
                if first:
                    data1.write(item)
                    first = False
                else:
                    data1.write('\n' + item)
            data1.close()
        if v.get() == 1:
            data1 = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students1.txt'), mode='w')
            first = True
            for item in items:
                if first:
                    data1.write(item)
                    first = False
                else:
                    data1.write('\n' + item)
            data1.close()

    def check_email():
        email = add_student_entry.get()
        if re.match(r'\w+@\w+.\w+', email) is not None:
            add_student()
            add_student_label['text'] = 'Add new student Email:'
            update_txt()
        else:
            add_student_label['text'] = 'EMAIL FORMAT INVALID'

    def delete_student():
        student_view.delete('active')
        update_txt()

    def add_student():
        if v.get() == 2:
            emails2_curr = emails2.get()
            emails2_curr = list(emails2_curr)
            emails2_curr.append(add_student_entry.get())
            emails2.set(emails2_curr)
            add_student_entry.delete(0, 'end')
        if v.get() == 1:
            emails1_curr = emails1.get()
            emails1_curr = list(emails1_curr)
            emails1_curr.append(add_student_entry.get())
            emails1.set(emails1_curr)
            add_student_entry.delete(0, 'end')

    def assign_class():
        if v.get() == 2:
            student_view['listvariable'] = emails2
        elif v.get() == 1:
            student_view['listvariable'] = emails1

    class_list = Toplevel()
    class_list.title("View/Edit Class Lists")
    class_list.geometry('400x200-680+300')
    class_list.grab_set()
    class_list.lift(root)

    student_frame = ttk.Frame(class_list)
    student_view = Listbox(student_frame, height=10, width=30)
    class1 = Radiobutton(student_frame, text='Class 1', var=v, value=1, command=assign_class)
    class2 = Radiobutton(student_frame, text='Class 2', var=v, value=2, command=assign_class)
    add_student_label = Label(student_frame, text='Add new student Email:')
    add_student_entry = Entry(student_frame, width=30)
    add_student_button = Button(student_frame, text='Add', command=check_email)
    delete_student_button = Button(student_frame, text='Delete', command=delete_student)

    add_student_entry.grid(column=2, row=1, sticky=N)
    add_student_label.grid(column=2, row=0, sticky=(N, E, W))
    add_student_button.grid(column=2, row=2)
    delete_student_button.grid(column=2, row=3)
    student_frame.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky=(N, S, E, W))
    student_view.grid(column=3, row=0, columnspan=3, rowspan=8, sticky=(N, W, S, E))
    class1.grid(column=3, row=8)
    class2.grid(column=4, row=8)


root = Tk()
root.title("Dr. Emailio Robotus")
root.geometry('600x700-670+120')
root.minsize(400, 500)

v = IntVar()
p = IntVar()
z = IntVar()

t1 = StringVar()
t2 = StringVar()
t3 = StringVar()
t4 = StringVar()
t5 = StringVar()
t6 = StringVar()
t7 = StringVar()
t8 = StringVar()
t9 = StringVar()
t10 = StringVar()
t11 = StringVar()
t12 = StringVar()
t13 = StringVar()

# data = open('students1.txt', encoding='utf-8')
data = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students1.txt'))
emails = data.read()
emails1 = emails.split('\n')
emails1 = Variable(value=emails1)
data.close()

data = open(os.path.join(__location__, 'students2.txt'))
emails = data.read()
emails2 = emails.split('\n')
emails2 = Variable(value=emails2)
data.close()

mainframe = ttk.Frame(root, padding="5", borderwidth=5, relief='solid')

this_lab_name = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t1)
this_lab_name_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s lab name:')

zoom_date_time = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t2)
zoom_date_time_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s Zoom meeting (date/time):')

zoom_link = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t3)
zoom_link_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s Zoom link:')

zoom_ID = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t4)
zoom_ID_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s Zoom meeting ID:')

zoom_passcode = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t5)
zoom_passcode_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s Zoom meeting passcode:')

this_lab_supplemental = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t6)
this_lab_supplemental_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s lab\'s supplemental questions:')

this_lab_consisting = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t7)
this_lab_consisting_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s lab should be consisting of:')

this_lab_due = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t8)
this_lab_due_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s lab is due (date/time):')

file_name_tag = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t9)
file_name_tag_label = Label(mainframe, text='This week\'s lab naming format (Aspirin/Hess):')

last_lab_reminder = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t10)
last_lab_reminder_label = Label(mainframe, text='Last week\'s lab name:')

last_lab_due = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t11)
last_lab_due_label = Label(mainframe, text='Last week\'s lab is due (date/time):')

last_lab_supplemental = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t12)
last_lab_supplemental_label = Label(mainframe, text='Last week\'s lab\'s supplemental questions:')

last_file_name_tag = ttk.Entry(mainframe, width=50, background='grey', textvariable=t13)
last_file_name_tag_label = Label(mainframe, text='Last week\'s lab naming format (Aspirin/Hess):')

compile_button = Button(mainframe, text='Compile Email', command=format_email, width=25)
view_email_button = Button(mainframe, text='View Email', state='disabled', command=display_email, width=25)

classes_button = Button(mainframe, text='View/Modify Class List', command=class_list_view, width=18)

send_button = Button(mainframe, text='Send Email...', width=18, state='disabled', command=send_email)

mainframe.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky=(N, S, E, W))

this_lab_name.grid(column=1, row=0, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
this_lab_name_label.grid(column=0, row=0, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

zoom_date_time.grid(column=1, row=1, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
zoom_date_time_label.grid(column=0, row=1, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

zoom_link.grid(column=1, row=2, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
zoom_link_label.grid(column=0, row=2, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

zoom_ID.grid(column=1, row=3, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
zoom_ID_label.grid(column=0, row=3, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

zoom_passcode.grid(column=1, row=4, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
zoom_passcode_label.grid(column=0, row=4, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

this_lab_supplemental.grid(column=1, row=5, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
this_lab_supplemental_label.grid(column=0, row=5, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

this_lab_consisting.grid(column=1, row=6, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
this_lab_consisting_label.grid(column=0, row=6, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

this_lab_due.grid(column=1, row=7, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
this_lab_due_label.grid(column=0, row=7, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

file_name_tag.grid(column=1, row=8, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
file_name_tag_label.grid(column=0, row=8, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

last_lab_reminder.grid(column=1, row=9, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
last_lab_reminder_label.grid(column=0, row=9, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

last_lab_due.grid(column=1, row=10, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
last_lab_due_label.grid(column=0, row=10, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

last_lab_supplemental.grid(column=1, row=11, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
last_lab_supplemental_label.grid(column=0, row=11, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

last_file_name_tag.grid(column=1, row=12, sticky=E, padx=3, pady=3)
last_file_name_tag_label.grid(column=0, row=12, sticky=W, padx=3, pady=3)

compile_button.grid(column=0, row=13, columnspan=2, padx=3, pady=3)
view_email_button.grid(column=0, row=14, columnspan=2, padx=3, pady=3)
classes_button.grid(row=15, column=0, columnspan=2, padx=3, pady=3)
send_button.grid(row=16, column=0, columnspan=2, padx=3, pady=3)

root.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
root.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
# mainframe.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
# mainframe.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
# mainframe.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
# mainframe.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)


if __name__ == '__main__':
    root.mainloop()

Answer 1

Following the advice given I was able to get the program to run. I had to change the .spec file, specifically the datas field in order to get it to work.

However I was then having a problem where the .txt files would load into the program, but upon editing them the edits were not saved as they should be. Solution: I had not put the files into 'w' mode, and this is why I wasn't getting any output to the text files. All is working now! Thank you to everyone for helping. I have updated the files above to reflect the final working version

Answer 2

Try the below spec file. I just changed the property console=True to console=False Note that now you need to run pyinstaller main.spec instead of pyinstaller main.py.

If you don't want to use this spec file, and just want to do it from the script add --noconsole or --windowed in command when you run pyinstaller main.py.

eg pyinstaller main.py --noconsole.

# -*- mode: python ; coding: utf-8 -*-

block_cipher = None


a = Analysis(['__main__.py'],
             pathex=['C:\\Users\\wiley\\PycharmProjects\\EmailBot\\email_bot'],
             binaries=[],
             datas=[],
             hiddenimports=[],
             hookspath=[],
             runtime_hooks=[],
             excludes=[],
             win_no_prefer_redirects=False,
             win_private_assemblies=False,
             cipher=block_cipher,
             noarchive=False)
pyz = PYZ(a.pure, a.zipped_data,
             cipher=block_cipher)
exe = EXE(pyz,
          a.scripts,
          [],
          exclude_binaries=True,
          name='__main__',
          debug=False,
          bootloader_ignore_signals=False,
          strip=False,
          upx=True,
          console=False)
coll = COLLECT(exe,
               a.binaries,
               a.zipfiles,
               a.datas,
               strip=False,
               upx=True,
               upx_exclude=[],
               name='__main__')