# What does Python support mean in Tiled?

**URL:** <https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105>\
**Category:** Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105 "2016-02-09T03:55:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Seanba](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.mapeditor.org/seanba/32/1531_2.png) [@Seanba](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/u/Seanba)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105/1 "2016-02-09T03:55:34Z")

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I’m sure this is a stupid question but I haven’t been able to find any documentation. What does it mean for Tiled to have Python support? I see there is a plugin for it and I’m wondering if that means we can modify/extend/export Tiled data in customizable ways.

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**Author:** ![Remusforte](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.mapeditor.org/remusforte/32/545_2.png) [@Remusforte](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/u/Remusforte)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2016, 11:18am UTC](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105/2 "2016-02-09T11:18:36Z")

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Actually, that’s a good question as to what Python support is _internal_ to Tiled. I’m curious myself.

But in the meantime, I am using the package PyTMX to take Tiled map save files (\*.tmx) and import them into Python: [PyTMX Introduction](http://pytmx.readthedocs.org/en/latest/).

If you are using pygame (as I am), here is another pretty good reference for using PyTMX to pull in Tiled map data: [PyTMX used in pygame](http://pygame.org/project-Tiled+TMX+Loader-2036-3955.html)

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**Author:** ![Ablu](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.mapeditor.org/ablu/32/1496_2.png) [@Ablu](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/u/Ablu)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 1:23pm UTC](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105/3 "2016-02-10T13:23:00Z")

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The python support means that you can write plugins for custom export  
formats in python directly. You can check the repository for some examples.  
Unfortunately I am on mobile atm, so in cannot link them properly.

Regards,  
Ablu

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**Author:** ![bjorn](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex035/user_avatar/discourse.mapeditor.org/bjorn/32/1599_2.png) [@bjorn](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/u/bjorn)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://discourse.mapeditor.org/t/what-does-python-support-mean-in-tiled/1105/4 "2016-02-10T20:32:57Z")

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Right, so like @Ablu said the Python plugin adds the ability to write Python scripts to add map formats, the same way you can write C++ plugins to add new formats. It supports of course both reading and writing.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it gets much testing, and it is not officially documented at all apart from the examples. This is largely due to me not being a Python programmer and this plugin having been added by somebody else. I’ve merely tried to maintain it and keep it working (which I hope it does).

Some information about the example scripts can be found at:

> **[stt/tiled](https://github.com/stt/tiled/wiki/Python-scripts)**
>
> This fork of Tiled adds Python import/export support - stt/tiled

And I will try to get to fixing this issue soon:

> <https://github.com/bjorn/tiled/issues/819>
>
> They should really be included so that people have some examples to work with.
> I think they're also missing from the OS...

When I get to add more scripting support to Tiled, I will likely go with JavaScript instead.