The Python interpreter module is properly installed but the related plugins and console do not show up in the menus where they should be normally available.
EDIT:
This problem occurs for me on Windows 7 with a new installation of GIMP Portable in "C:\" .
Need some more info including: Operating system and version, full install path, new install of GIMP Portable vs upgrade.
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OK, I posted the additional informations to the opening post.
However, someone has just pointed out to me that the issue is due to the lack of the file called "pygimp.env" in the folder "GIMP 2/lib/gimp/2.0/environ", which in our case should correspond to the folder "\GIMPPortable\App\lib\gimp\2.0\environ".
Actually, by copying the aforesaid file from the previous 2.8.6 installation, the python modules are correctly loaded and working in GIMP (Portable) 2.8.8 as well.
The files included in GIMP Portable 2.8.8 are from a clean install of GIMP on a clean Windows XP VM, so that file isn't in a local install of GIMP 2.8.8. Then again, GIMP on Windows has been buggy with their 32-bit installer as of late.
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The file sets PYTHONPATH only (on my old local install).
Maybe it's not necessary anymore (for local GIMP) and GIMP Portable sets the variable to a wrong directory.
The GIMP Portable launcher correctly sets PYTHONPATH to %PAL:AppDir%\gimp\Python. Maybe we need to add Python to the PATH as well.
Scratch that. It should be:
PYTHONPATH=%PAL:AppDir%\gimp\2.0\python
In the GIMPortable.ini. Can folks affected check if this fixes the issue?
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With such modification in GIMPortable.ini, the Python related items finally reappear in the corresponding menus. Nevertheless, neither the plugins nor the console still work, as they produce a practically identical error message when loaded.
Regarding the "Offset Palette" plugin, here is the error message I receive on Windows 7:
Plug-in crashed: "palette-offset.py"
(C:\GIMPPortable\App\gimp\lib\gimp\2.0\plug-ins\palette-offset.py)
The dying plug-in may have messed up GIMP's internal state. You may want to save your images and restart GIMP to be on the safe side.
PYTHONPATH=%PAL:AppDir%\lib\gimp\2.0\python ?
Same error message as the one reported before.
Have you tried to delete that line in GIMPPortable.ini?
I have just tried but nothing changes.
Can you give an example plugin that isn't working? I don't use any Python plugins for GIMP.
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For instance, "Offset Palette" is one of the Python plugins featured by the "Palettes" pop-menu, which can be accessed by right-clicking in the "Palettes" dialog.
Another Python related tool is the Python-Fu Console, under 'Filters -> Python-Fu -> Console'.
Do you have (local) Python installed on your system? Or multiple versions? Maybe there is a conflict somewhere.
No other Python installations in the specific system in which I have tested the proposed patches so far.
Anyway, thanks for your help and efforts.
I just wish to report that this bug seems to be fixed in the new stable version (2.8.10) of GIMP for Windows installer, at least as far as I have experienced on my PC.