Install error for blpapi in python for bloomberg A

Question

I am a Bloomberg terminal user and am trying to get the API to work via Python.

I have Python 3.7.0 64-bit on my Windows 7 64-bit computer installed to: C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37

I downloaded the C/C++ Supported Release (v3.8.18.1) from the Bloomberg API Library. I unzipped contents to C:\blp\API\cpp (I am a terminal user so I already had C:\blp\API and I added a new folder "CPP").

I then installed the Python API through pip as stated at the bottom of this page: API Library Support and received a Successfully installed blpapi-3.12.2 message. I noticed this got installed to C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Lib\site-packages

In Idle I then import blpapi and I get the following errors:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 39, in swig_import_helper
return importlib.import_module(mname)
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\importlib\__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 1006, in _gcd_import
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 983, in _find_and_load
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 967, in _find_and_load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 670, in _load_unlocked
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 583, in module_from_spec
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 1043, in create_module
  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 219, in _call_with_frames_removed
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified procedure could not be found.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\__init__.py", line 4, in <module>
from .internals import CorrelationId
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 42, in <module>
_internals = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\internals.py", line 41, in swig_import_helper
return importlib.import_module('_internals')
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\importlib\__init__.py", line 127, in import_module
return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_internals'

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#1>", line 1, in <module>
import blpapi
  File "C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\lib\site-packages\blpapi\__init__.py", line 9, in <module>
raise debug_load_error(error)
ImportError: No module named '_internals'

Mismatch between C++ and Python SDK libraries.

Python SDK version    3.12.1
Found C++ SDK version 3.11.6.1

Download and install the latest C++ SDK from:

    http://www.bloomberg.com/professional/api-library

If a recent version of the C++ SDK is already installed, please ensure that the
path to the library is added to PATH before entering the interpreter.

I searched through answers on this site and attempted the following:

• set the 'path' variable in both "User variables for gp" and "system variables" in system properties to: C:\blp\DAPI;C:\blp\DAPI\DDE;C:\blp\API\cpp;C:\blp\API\cpp\bin (DAPI and DDE folders were already there)
• added a 'BLPAPI_ROOT' variable of: C:\blp\API\cpp in the "User variables for gp" and "system variables" in system properties
• tried placing a copy of blpapi3_64.dll from the C:\blp\API\cpp\bin folder into C:\Users\gp\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37\Lib\site-packages and tried placing it in subfolder "blpapi" and added those locations to the path variable mentioned above and it still did not work.
• ensured I have downloaded Visual Studio Build Tools 2017

Any other ideas?

Answer 1

The problem is that you have the same libraries (DLL files) installed in the C:\blp\DAPI and the cpp folder. However, the version of these files is not the same, and that is why the error message appears. A simple fix is to copy and paste all libraries from the c:\lib\blpapi_cpp_3.12.2.1\lib folder into C:\blp\DAPI. This fixes the problem.

Answer 2

I struggled with these issues like others here. I was running the latest Anaconda3 5.3.1 with Python 3.7. I did the following :

1. uninstall anaconda completely (that was difficult and I mostly had to do it manually even after trying anaconda-clean)

2. uninstall and reinstall Bloomberg

3. Installed python 3.6 (32-bit) from python.org

4. Installed Anaconda latest version 64-bit

5. Found the packages needed for Bloomberg on another PC that wasn't having these issues. But I also found them here: https://bloomberg.bintray.com/pip/simple/blpapi/

6. Regular command prompt: pip install c:\YOURPATH\blpapi-3.9.1-cp36-cp36m-win32.whl

7. Check that it worked -- import blpapi in ptyhon worked but it still wouldn't work in Jupyter nb

8. Tried to install blpapi-3.9.1-cp36-cp36m-win_amd64.whl in anaconda prompt but that didn't work. So in Conda prompt I did conda install python=3.6.3 to downgrade from PY3.7 to 3.6.3

9. Now in conda prompt: pip install c:\YOURPATH\blpapi-3.9.1-cp36-cp36m-win_amd64.whl and that installed.

A note about Environment variables in PATH -- I have nothing other than the usual C:\blp\DAPI;C:\blp\DAPI\DDE related to Bloomberg.
The dll you need is already in there (I believe).
The one thing I did do with PATH was have C:\Users\YOUR\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32\Scripts\;C:\Users\YOUR\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36-32 and that was actually done by ticking the PATH box when I installed python 3.6.

There are many redundant or unnecessary steps here. I think the most important point is there is some issue with the C++ files that Bloomberg gives you with their latest release -- these older files seem to work. The key there is obviously that you have to downgrade to PY 3.6. I think steps 3-6 in my example would have worked without the first two.

Answer 3

I had the exact same error & replied with my error message. Finally got it to work.

1. Uninstalled blpapi and my Bloomberg professional software.
2. Reinstalled the latest Bloomberg professional
3. Dropped the C++ directory into C:\blp\api\cpp as before
4. installed blpapi using python -m pip install --index-url=https://bloomberg.bintray.com/pip/simple blpapi in my conda exec

Somehow that worked. I feel really stupid, but relieved.

Answer 4

My Python version is 3.7.1 [MSC v.1915 64 bit (AMD64)], Windows7 64-bit.

Just migrated to a new PC, and had the same two errors:

"ImportError: No module named '_internals' Mismatch between C++ and Python SDK libraries.

Python SDK version 3.12.1 Found C++ SDK version 3.11.6.1"

What worked for me is very similar to alex314159, without needing to waste time with PATH variables.

1. Close all applications.
2. First download and install the latest C++ SDK (in my case, April2019, it was 3.12.3.1) from the link provided in the error and original post.
3. Then using CMD in Windowsw, type 'where blpapi3_64.dll', which for me it returned "C:\Program Files (x86)\blp\DAPI".
4. Copy the blpapi3_32.dll and blpapi3.64.dll from Step2 into the folder in Step3.
5. Launch Jupyter Notebook, run 'import blpapi' ...and finally it worked!

As a side note, I'd love to know why the original error was 'ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_internals'

as when opening the blpapi folder in my site-packages, there is a module called internals.py as well as one called _internals.cp37-win-arnd64.pyd ?

Answer 5

As @Malick points out in his answer, currently Bloomberg has a mismatch in their versioning on https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/support/api-library/ where the stable version of blpapi for python requires the experimental version of the C++ SDK (i.e. v3.12.2.1 instead of v3.8.18.1). This seems inconsistent with what they are releasing via WAPI in the terminal.

Another option, provided you can find a build for your desired platform and python version, is to use conda. You can see what is available on https://anaconda.org/ via anacoda search blpapi

$ anaconda search blpapi
Using Anaconda API: https://api.anaconda.org
Packages:
     Name                      |  Version | Package Types   | Platforms       | Builds    
     ------------------------- |   ------ | --------------- | --------------- | ----------
     conda-forge/blpapi        |    3.9.2 | conda           | linux-64, win-64, osx-64 | py36he980bc4_0, py36_blpapicpp3.8.18.1_1, py36_blpapicpp3.8.1.1_1, py27h2d50403_0, py27_blpapicpp3.8.18.1_1, py27hdc96acc_0, py36h2d50403_0, py27_blpapicpp3.8.1.1_1
                                          : Python SDK for Bloomberg BLPAPI (<=3.9)
     dsm/blpapi                |    3.9.0 | conda           | linux-64, win-64 | py36_0, py27_0
     josh/blpapi               |    3.5.5 | conda           | linux-64        | py27_0    
     macinv/blpapi             |    3.9.0 | conda           | linux-64, win-64 | py36_0, py27_0, py35_0, py34_0
     mbonix/blpapi             |    3.9.0 | conda           | win-64          | py36_0    
                                          : Bloomberg's Open Market Data Initiative is part of the company's ongoing effort to foster open solutions for the financial services industry.
     p-vg/blpapi               |    3.9.2 | conda           | linux-64, win-64 | py36h6538335_0, py27hc56fc5f_0, py36hf484d3e_0, py27hf484d3e_0
                                          : interface for Bloomberg API services using the Python programming language
Found 6 packages

Run 'anaconda show <USER/PACKAGE>' to get installation details

Answer 6

Solution that worked for me with Python 3.7 on Windows 10:

1/Download the Bloomberg experimental C++ 3.12 SDK from WAPI<GO> or https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/support/api-library/

2/Extract, look for the lib folder, there are four files, blpapi3_32.dll, blpapi3_32.lib, blpapi3_64.dll, blpapi3_64.lib.

3/in the windows shell I typed where blpapi3_32.dll and replaced all of these locations with the new files above. In my case it was at least C:\blp\DAPI and C:\Users\MyName\AppData\Local\Continuum\anaconda3\Library\bin\blpapi3_32.dll (you will need to close the Bloomberg desktop before overriding these files as they're used by the desktop application)