More information: I realized that I was 4 versions behind, the error I was seeing was in version 0.87
However: Version 0.87.1 has the same error Version 0.87.2 gives the following (though it works afterwards): Python 2.4.2 (#67, Sep 28 2005, 12:41:11) [MSC v.1310 32 bit (Intel)] on win32 Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> from pylab import * C:\Python24\lib\site-packages\matplotlib\font_manager.py:456: UserWarning: Canno t handle unicode filenames warnings.warn("Cannot handle unicode filenames") >>> Version 0.87.3 seems to work just fine (no noticeable errors). Version 0.87.4 causes a full interpreter crash with no errors (the crash raises one of Window's infamous "* has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience." dialogs). So, I've got a temporary solution, in that I can just use version 0.87.3, but it's not a permanent solution as development of matplotlib goes forward. If anyone can explain what's going on I'd appreciate it. -- R. Padraic Springuel Teaching Assistant Department of Physics and Astronomy University of Maine Bennett 214 Office Hours: By Appointment only during the Summer ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys -- and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Matplotlib-users mailing list Matplotlib-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/matplotlib-users