Pycharm: "unresolved reference" error on the IDE when opening a working project

Question

Intro

I have a Python project on a git repository. Everything works ok for most of the team members, we can sync the code and edit it without any problem with Pycharm on different platforms (Windows, Linux)

The problem

On one of the computers we are getting "Unresolved reference" all over the code on almost every import with the exception of Python's built in libraries (i.e. import datetime is working). This computer is running the Mac version of Pycharm.

The question

Anyone knows how to solve this?, since most of the imports are not recognized code completion and navigation trough goto->declaration and so on is not working. Is there any known issue with the Mac version?

Thanks in advance!

Solution 1

The key is to mark your source directory as a source root. Try the following:

• In the Project view, right-click on the Python source directory
• In the dialog menu select Mark Directory As > Source Root

The folder should now appear blue instead of beige, to indicate it is a Python source folder.

You can also configure this in PyCharm preferences by doing the following for a project that is already in PyCharm:

• In the Mac toolbar, select PyCharm > Preferences
• In the window that opens, select Project Structure from the menu pane on the left
• Select your project in the middle pane, if necessary
• Right-click on your Python source in the right pane and select Sources from the menu dialog

Solution 2

I also had the problem, and it took me few hours to find the exact solution.

You need to confirm the following things.

1. 'django.contrib.staticfiles', is added to INSTALLED_APPS in the settings.py file of your application.

2. The directory with the static contents (for example, images), named static, resides under the application root.

Now Do the following

PyCharm > Preferences > Project Settings > Django

Make sure your Django Project root, Settings.py and manage.py script are well defined in the dialog box.

You are good to go. Hope this helps.

Solution 3

I did all the stuff above from einnocent and myildirim but still had to do the following:

close pycharm and manually delete the .idea folder, this deletes everything pycharm knows about the code.

open pycharm, reimport the project

the combination of setting the correct source root, restarting python with invaliding cache and deleting the .idea folder / reimporting the pycharm project fixed it for me.

Solution 4

PyCharm > select "File" menu > select "Invalidate Caches / Restart" menu option

Solution 5

I faced similar issue with pyspark ( spark 2.1 ) & luigi.

Failed tries:

1. Setting PYTHONPATH environment variable
2. Invalidate cache & restart pycharm
3. Mark directory as Source Root

Unresolved reference pyspark could be fixed by adding the spark's python directory as Content Root in the project, but running the project as luigi task gave the same error.

Successfull steps

• Create an empty __init__.py file in the project

• Include following lines of code at the top of script

  ...
  import sys
  
  sys.path.append("/path/to/spark/python")
  
  sys.path.append("/path/to/spark/python/lib")
  
  ...
  // import pyspark files after above mentioned lines
  

and the Unresolved reference error issue was fixed both in pycharm & luigi task.

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Comments

[Mr_and_Mrs_D]

Then restart the IDE... - oops not even this worked. Why can't people write an IDE that works, why ?

[myildirim]

You should; " File -> Invalidate Caches / Restart... -> Invalidate and Restart " it worked for me. @Mr_and_Mrs_D

[Mr_and_Mrs_D]

@myildirim: thanks - will check this if I ever go back

[Sergio Ayestarán]

Thanks for the help, unfortunately in my case it wasn't a django project so this method doesn't apply. Probably it will help others as an alternative tho.

[A.J.]

Cool, Thanks, Rock and Roll!!

[psychok7]

i still have the same problem... it happens mostly with third party apps

[J4cK]

@Clayton How does entire settings.py file look like ? What exactly you changed ?

[snowbound]

Invalidate Caches / Restart fixed it for me. Thanks!

[Simon]

i wanted to add that to the answer of einnocent since it would have fit there really well. without the reputation to comment, i posted it as a seperate answer.

[user2682863]

This answer worked for me. Seems like a perfectly reasonable answer.

[edilio]

Just be aware that you can only add one Content Root but you can add several Source Folders.

[user238607]

I tried to do that. But it says that content roots shouldn't intersect. Doesn't allow it to add the sources.

[J-Schaefer]

Unfortunately I still have the same issue 8 years after the original question. And manually deleting the .idea/ folder and remarking the source folders works. But there is still no better solution to this?