How do I chose the correct version of python when trying to install the Matlab Engine API?

I'm trying to install the Matlab Engine API for Windows. I have both Python 3.7 and 3.8, with 3.8 being my default version. When I try the command

python setup.py install

it gives me an error saying my version is 3.8, which isn't accepted. I then triend the command

python setup.py -3.7 install

but it gives the same error message. Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

[Kojiro Saito]

As of R2020a, Python 3.8 is not supported yet. Your "python" command is an alias of Python 3.8, so you need to specify the full path of Python 3.7.

For example, if Python 3.7 is installed in C:\Program Files\Python 3.7,

"C:\Program Files\Python 3.7\python.exe" setup.py install

Double quotation is necessary if the installation folder contains spaces (like Program Files).

Please keep in mind that 64 bit versions of Python are necessary to user MATLAB Engine API of R2020a.

System Requirements for MATLAB Engine API for Python

[Matthew Nikolai]

I tried

"C:\users\NIKOLMT\Anaconda3\python.exe" setup.py install

because the path for my 3.7 python is "c:\users\NIKOLMT\Anaconda3" and it doesn't work, saying that setup.py is not a valid command. Anything you can point out that I'm doing wrong?

[Matthew Nikolai]

I actually got it to work without the quotes. Thank you for the help.

[Jairo CM]

Hi Matthew, I have a case similar to yours, did you manage to solve the problem?

Thank you.