title: How to run project files using Anaconda from any directory in Windows
body: <p>Python newbie here. Am using Anaconda (on Windows 7) by recommendation of a friend. </p>
  
  <p>What I want to be able to do is make a change to my class in Notepad++ and then test it in my Python command prompt window immediately. </p>
  
  <p>This is a simple question that I can't seem to find the answer: in what directory does a default installation of Anaconda expect me to be storing my .py files (so that I can easily load them using <code>import &lt;MODULE NAME&gt;</code>)? </p>
  
  <p>My PATH variable is set to:
  <code>C:\USERS\&lt;USERNAME&gt;\Anaconda3;C:\USERS\&lt;USERNAME&gt;\Anaconda3\Scripts</code></p>
  
  <p>(this is the default)</p>
  
  <p>Am I supposed to be working out of the <code>Scripts</code> directory...? There's already a lot of files in there. </p>
  
  <p>What do most people do? Perhaps add another folder to the PATH variable and work out of there? Do you add a new folder to PATH for each project or is there a way that makes more sense? I already have a Projects directory I use for everything else. I'd like to just be able to work out of there. </p>
  
  <p>I am coding in Notepad++. I don't really want to bother setting up/learning an IDE (I'm just doing relatively simple I/O file manipulation that I have previously been doing in Excel... the horror). </p>
  
  <p>Sorry for the extremely newbie question. I searched and could not find anything relevant. </p>
  
  <p>EDIT AFTER ACCEPTED ANSWER:</p>
  
  <p>The problem was that I was running python.exe from the Start menu. I did not realize that you are supposed to open a CMD window in the folder (SHIFT+RIGHT CLICK) you are working in (such as <code>C:\USERS\&lt;USERNAME&gt;\MY PYTHON STUFF</code>) and run python from there. </p>