Quickstart

This page covers writing and running your first script.

Open the script editor

In openLCA, go to Tools → Developer Tools → Python. This opens the editor used to write and run scripts.

Open the Python editor

The Python editor and its Run button

Run your first script

Enter the following in the editor and click Run (the ▶ button in the toolbar):

print("Hello world!")

The openLCA console displays:

Hello world!

Hello world! in the console

This is the basic cycle: write a script, run it, and read the output in the console.

Read from your database

This script reads from your database, so openLCA must be open with a database loaded. If you do not have one yet, see Set up a database first.

# Remember to run this with a database open
flows = db.getAll(Flow)
print("Your database contains %d flows." % len(flows))

Two details are worth noting. db refers to the open database and is always available; you do not need to set it up. And Flow is used without an import: openLCA makes its data model available automatically. Both are explained in Technical details.

Where to go next

  • Set up a database — if you do not have one ready
  • A minimal example — a complete model and calculation from start to finish
  • A specific task: flows, processes, product systems, calculation, or Excel