Python3 | Pyinstaller | how do I add an excel file to the exe

Question

I'm trying to create an exe out of a python script that also makes use of an excel file. But everytime I run the exe, I get the following error:

FileNotFoundError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'Example.xlsx'

I really don't understand what I'm doing wrong, hope you can help me. My folder contains the following three files:

main.py
functions.py
Example.xlsx

Next, I run pyinstaller in the terminal:

pyinstaller --onefile --add-data "Example.xlsx:." main.py

It then creates the dist directory with the main exe in it. But when I run it, it gives me the mentioned error. My main.spec file shows the following for 'datas', what I think is right:

a = Analysis(...,
             datas=[('210307 Valuation portfolio (HC).xlsx', '.')],
             ...)

What am I doing wrong here?

Answer 1

This is because pyinstaller extracts to a random temporary location, then runs your file.

This location is accessible using the sys._MEIPASS location.

I came across a helper function a couple years ago that makes determining this location during development and deployment quite easy:

import sys, os

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)

To use it, give the function the file name, and it will return an absolute path.