Simple way to choose which cells to run in ipython notebook during run all

Question

I have an ipython notebook that runs several steps in a data processing routine and saves information in files along the way. This way, while developing my code (mostly in a

Answer 1

You can create your own skip magic with the help of a custom kernel extension.

skip_kernel_extension.py

def skip(line, cell=None):
    '''Skips execution of the current line/cell if line evaluates to True.'''
    if eval(line):
        return

    get_ipython().ex(cell)

def load_ipython_extension(shell):
    '''Registers the skip magic when the extension loads.'''
    shell.register_magic_function(skip, 'line_cell')

def unload_ipython_extension(shell):
    '''Unregisters the skip magic when the extension unloads.'''
    del shell.magics_manager.magics['cell']['skip']

Load the extension in your notebook:

%load_ext skip_kernel_extension

Run the skip magic command in the cells you want to skip:

%%skip True  #skips cell
%%skip False #won't skip

You can use a variable to decide if a cell should be skipped by using $:

should_skip = True
%%skip $should_skip