Why doesn't this python keyboard interrupt work? (in pycharm)

Question

My python try/except loop does not seem to trigger a keyboard interrupt when Ctrl + C is pressed while debugging my code in pycharm. My code look like this:

Answer 1

You can also use PyCharm's Python console and use Ctrl + C, if you catch the exception that PyCharm raises when Ctrl + C is pressed. I wrote a short function below called is_keyboard_interrupt that tells you whether the exception is KeyboardInterrupt, including PyCharm's. If it is not, simply re-raise it. I paste a simplified version of the code below.

When it is run:

• type 'help' and press Enter to repeat the loop.
• type anything else and press Enter to check that ValueError is handled properly.
• Press Ctrl + C to check that KeyboardInterrupt is caught, including in PyCharm's python console.

Note: This doesn't work with PyCharm's debugger console (the one invoked by "Debug" rather than "Run"), but there the need for Ctrl + C is less because you can simply press the pause button.

I also put this on my Gist where I may make updates: https://gist.github.com/yulkang/14da861b271576a9eb1fa0f905351b97

def is_keyboard_interrupt(exception):
    # The second condition is necessary for it to work with the stop button
    # in PyCharm Python console.
    return (type(exception) is KeyboardInterrupt
            or type(exception).__name__ == 'KeyboardInterruptException')

try:
    def print_help():
        print("To exit type exit or Ctrl + c can be used at any time")
    print_help()

    while True:
        task = input("What do you want to do? Type \"help\" for help:- ")
        if task == 'help':
            print_help()
        else:
            print("Invalid input.")

            # to check that ValueError is handled separately
            raise ValueError()

except Exception as ex:
    try:
        # Catch all exceptions and test if it is KeyboardInterrupt, native or
        # PyCharm's.
        if not is_keyboard_interrupt(ex):
            raise ex

        print('KeyboardInterrupt caught as expected.')
        print('Exception type: %s' % type(ex).__name__)
        exit()

    except ValueError:
        print('ValueError!')

Answer 2

From your screen shot it appears that you are running this code in an IDE. The thing about IDEs is that they are not quite the same as running normally, especially when it comes to handling of keyboard characters. The way you press ctrl-c, your IDE thinks you want to copy text. The python program never sees the character. Pehaps it brings up a separate window when running? Then you would select that window before ctrl-c.

Answer 3

If that comment doesn't solve your problem, (from @tdelaney) you need to have your shell window focused (meaning you've clicked on it when the program is running.) and then you can use Control+C

Answer 4

I know this is an old question, but I ran into the same problem and think there's an easier solution:

In PyCharm go to "Run"/"Edit Configurations" and check "Emulate terminal in output console". PyCharm now accepts keyboard interrupts (make sure the console is focused).

Tested on: PyCharm 2019.1 (Community Edition)

Answer 5

Make sure the window is selected when you press ctrl+c. I just ran your program in IDLE and it worked perfectly for me.

Answer 6

Here is working normally, since i put a variable "x" in your code and i use tabs instead spaces.

try:

    def help():
        print("Help.")

    def doStuff():
        print("Doing Stuff")

    while True:
        x = int(input())
        if x == 1:
            help()
        elif x == 2:
            doStuff()
        else:
            exit()

except KeyboardInterrupt:
    exit()