How to setup PyCharm with an anaconda virtual environment already created

I recently had to add an anaconda environment to already created conda environment and faced some issue. Thought I will explain this so others don’t have to go through the same thing.

I am using PyCharm community edition 2017.3.4 so if you are using any other version of PyCharm you will have to use your JetBrains tool skills to change the steps. Check this video out if you want to improve those skills. A JetBrains employee told me he intends to do a PyCharm version too.

Now the actual steps for this version

• Click on Configure > Settings to open up settings in PyCharm
• Search for “Project Interpreter”. My PyCharm looks like this

• Click on Add local via the settings on the right side

• 
  
• Select “conda environment”
• Click on “Existing environment” and navigate to the environment that you want to use. Note that you have to select the bin/python file inside the conda environment for PyCharm to be able to recognise the environment
• Make sure to click the “Make available to all projects” if you want the interpreter to be used by multiple projects

• Click ok and you are done