# Python Manager 0.0.3

## Introduction
Python Manager is a TouchDesigner component that simplifies managing and installing external Python libraries within your projects. It uses a virtual environment (venv) to maintain an isolated Python setup, ensuring that additional libraries can be installed and managed without affecting TouchDesigner's Python environment.

## Initial Setup
### Creating and Configuring the Virtual Environment (`Createvenv` pulse)
- To set up Python Manager, first click the `Createvenv` pulse. This opens a folder selection menu.
- You can either select a folder or use a path specified in the `Basefolder` parameter. Python Manager will build the virtual environment (`venv`) and use the correct version of Python automatically.
- If the correct version of Python for your TouchDesigner installation is not installed on your system, a popup window will appear with a download link.
- The `Basefolder` parameter will be set to the chosen folder, completing the initial setup process.
- After creating the virtual environment, click the `Addtosyspath` pulse. This adds the virtual environment’s packages to TouchDesigner’s system path, making installed libraries available for import.

## Usage in Different Projects
Once configured, the Python Manager can effectively link multiple TouchDesigner projects to the same virtual environment. As long as the `Basefolder` remains unchanged and the virtual environment is in the same location on your computer, this setup ensures a consistent Python environment across different projects.

## Managing Python Packages (Page: PIP)
### Installing Packages (`Pipinstall` pulse - Label: Pip Install)
- To install a package, enter the package name in the `Pippackage` (Label: Python Library) field and click the `Pipinstall` pulse.
- You can access this functionality via script: `op('python_manager').Pipinstall('package_name')`.

### Uninstalling Packages (`Pipuninstall` pulse - Label: Pip Uninstall)
- Enter or select the package name in `Pippackage` (Label: Python Library) and click the `Pipuninstall` pulse to remove it.
- Accessible via script: `op('python_manager').Pipuninstall('package_name')`.

### Updating Packages (`Pipupdate` pulse - Label: Pip Update)
- Enter or select the package name in `Pippackage` (Label: Python Library) and click the `Pipupdate` pulse to update a package to the latest version.
- Script access: `op('python_manager').Pipupdate('package_name')`.

### Installing from a List (`Pipinstallfromlist` pulse - Label: Pip Install From List (in1))
- The `Pipinstallfromlist` pulse installs packages listed in the `in1` DAT, formatted like a requirements.txt file.
- Sample format in `in1` DAT:
  ```
  matplotlib==3.6.0
  pandas
  scikit-learn
  ```
- This can also be performed via script: `op('python_manager').Pipinstallfromlist()`.

### Listing Installed Packages (`Listinstalledpackages` pulse - Label: List Current Packages)
- Updates the package list of all packages installed in the virtual environment.
- Access via script: `op('python_manager').Listinstalledpackages()`.

## Additional Functionalities (Page: Setup venv)
### Setting Python Executable (`Setpython` pulse - Label: Set Python Executable)
- Automatically locates and sets the compatible Python executable. This function is automatically run when creating a venv, but might be necessary for configuring a project.

### Generating Requirements.txt (`Createreqtxt` pulse - Label: Create requirements.txt)
- Creates a requirements.txt file in your Base Folder with a list of installed packages.

### Opening the Virtual Environment (`Openvenv` pulse - Label: Open Virtual Env (venv))
- Activates and opens the virtual environment in a command window, allowing manual command-line interactions.

### Resetting the Operator (`ResetOp`)
- Clears the current settings and prepares Python Manager for reconfiguration or use in a different project.