How to Install Matplotlib Basemap Module on Windows 7 with WinPython (or any Python stack install)?

Question

I've found that the Basemap (module for matplotlib and Python) binary installer for Windows cannot detect Python on the system when Python is installed as part of a stack install, like Anaconda or WinPython. The installer exits, rather than allow you to point to the directory of installation.

I have to therefore install via source. However, I don't know the method to do this. The Readme.txt and install instructions don't seem to help. They simply instruct to "install geos-3.3.3 first" - well, how exactly? I don't see a setup.py in that directory.

Any help would be great. (Python 2.7, Win 7, 64b)

Answer 1

The following worked for me using Python 3.10.1.

Setup environment using terminal in Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/python-tutorial):

py -3 -m venv .venv
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process
.venv\scripts\activate

Install basemap using pip:

pip install matplotlib
pip install basemap-data
pip install basemap-data-hires
pip install basemap

Create file with code from: https://matplotlib.org/basemap/users/examples.html

Remember to select the correct interpreter (In VSCode use Ctrl+Shift+P to select interpreter).

That's it.