Matplotlib interactive mode not working on win 7
Question: This file should work, but it doesn't:

    
    
    from matplotlib import pyplot
    
    pyplot.ion()
    pyplot.plot(range(10))
    
    raw_input('Press return to close')
    

The plot window appears, the inside is white and the hourglass cursor is
shown. The text is printed in the shell, and hitting return closes the empty
plot window.

I can plot from ipython, but this has to run from a file. Exactly the same
problem as [Using ion() from pylab causes matplotlib to
hang](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12827969/using-ion-from-pylab-causes-
matplotlib-to-hang) , but the solution doesn't help me.

I am using Qt4Agg, by default. I haven't changed any settings, it is a fresh
Anaconda install.

I don't think this is Anaconda specific, I had exactly the same problem some
time ago with a normal Python install, but I don't remember the solution.

I recently upgraded Matplotlib to 1.3.1 np18py27_1

    
    
    Current conda install:
    
                 platform : win-32
            conda version : 3.0.6
           python version : 2.7.6.final.0
         root environment : C:\Anaconda  (writable)
      default environment : C:\Anaconda
         envs directories : C:\Anaconda\envs
            package cache : C:\Anaconda\pkgs
             channel URLs : http://repo.continuum.io/pkgs/free/win-32/
                            http://repo.continuum.io/pkgs/pro/win-32/
              config file : None
        is foreign system : False
    


Answer: If it fixed your problem to call a different back-end, you can make this a
permanent change by changing the `matplotlibrc` file.

Unfortunately, I'm not sure where this file would be in windows.

When you do find it, line 32 sets the back-end used:

    
    
    #### CONFIGURATION BEGINS HERE
    
    # the default backend; one of GTK GTKAgg GTKCairo GTK3Agg GTK3Cairo
    # CocoaAgg FltkAgg MacOSX QtAgg Qt4Agg TkAgg WX WXAgg Agg Cairo GDK PS
    # PDF SVG Template
    # You can also deploy your own backend outside of matplotlib by
    # referring to the module name (which must be in the PYTHONPATH) as
    # 'module://my_backend'
    backend      : <Whatever works for you>
    

This will allow you to run it from a file - outside of ipython

