How to get Visual Studio Code extension for Python installed for ALL users

[iscott]

We are running ('online') Python coding exams for AQA A Level Comp Sci and BTEC Comp Extended Diploma - encountering issues with 'restricted accounts' for exam candidates who try to run VS Code but the Python 'extension' isn't installed.

 

Since they have no access to the Internet - they can't download/install the extension themselves.

 

Would hope to get some sort of resolution rather than have IT support in 'on the day' of the exam(s) to manually 1-by-1 get the extension downloaded and installed - hoping there's a better way out there!

 

Would prefer - if possible - also not to have to have IT support log in one by one on each account on specific machines and download/install the Python extension prior to the exams... risk of students sitting in wrong seat/at wrong workstations!

 

We have 'IDLE' but this isn't the best option for many students who are 'used to' VS Code/would like to offer multiple options.

 

Thanks in advance.

[old_n07]

Hi,

 

The instructions for installing for all users via VSIX files didn't work for me but the following did:

 

Install the extension from within VS Code on a machine with internet access

Navigate to c:\users\\.vscode\extensions

Copy all of the folders within to a folder - leave the JSON and .init-default file

On the offline machines copy the folders to C:\Program Files\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\extensions

 

When you run code it will read the extensions and they will show as installed in the extension store

 

HTH

Neil

 

EDIT:

Also copy the C:\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Code\User\settings.json to the default user profile so the python path is mapped for new users automatically

Edited February 3, 2023 by old_n07