beginner question about a code for converting inch(es) to cm

Question

Hi,

I have just started learning Python and am a total newbie. Besides SoloLearn I am using a book designed for beginners which came with a CD with an IDLE on it. I am already having problems with the 3rd exercise, which is to write a code for converting inch(es) to cm.

inch=2.54
print("Please enter a value for inch.")
xi=float(input())
xcm=xi*inch
print(xi, "inch(es) equal", xcm, "cm")

playground: https://code.sololearn.com/c7D39UG6OhIF

The code seems to work in playground. It is also the sample solution given in the book (keep in mind, this is the very start of the book...). I had to look up the sample solution because I kept getting errors when creating own codes in the IDLE. Unfortunately, even the sample solution does not work in the IDLE:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<pyshell#2>", line 1, in <module>
xi=float(input())
ValueError: could not convert string to float:

As the code works with playground, I am thinking that something is wrong with the IDLE.

I hope you guys can help me.

Answer 1

maybe you entered a number with a comma instead of a dot?

Answer 2

Thank you so much ~ swim ~ and Игорь Яковенко for the fast answers :)

Now it all makes sense and I can continue :)

Answer 3

>>> inch=2.54
>>> print("Please enter a value for inch.")
Please enter a value for inch.
>>> xi=float(input())

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<pyshell#2>", line 1, in <module>
xi=float(input())
ValueError: could not convert string to float:
>>>

This is the complete code until receiving an error message in the IDLE. To me it seems to be the exact same I entered in playground...
Although playground does not have (or display) ">>>". In playground, I only had to press enter key once, in the IDLE i had to use it twice to get the next ">>>".

P.S.: I do not know the different terms yet, sry.

Answer 4

Oh, I see, this works. But how can I write the full code (https://code.sololearn.com/c7D39UG6OhIF) without having to enter a number? I want to be able to enter any number after it is finished. By entering a number while writing the code, it is fix, isn´t it?