When I first started working with conda environments in windows 10, it took me a very long time to figure out how to import basic python libraries in Jupiter notebooks without having to install them one by one any time I needed it.

Even tried cloning the base environment to a .yaml file but that didn't work either.

so what finally worked?

Creating conda environments from a text file

The first thing to note with this method is we need to start with an existing working environment. its some sort of cloning but not really.

for me I'll be "cloning" the base environment in conda.

• In your anaconda or command prompt activate the environment you
  need to duplicate: conda activate base

• Run conda list --explicit to see a list of specs in the
  active environment like this:

  

• Save the list in a text file by running
  

conda list --explicit > pack-file.txt

A thing to note with explicit files is that they are not cross platform. The # platform: win-64 shows where the file was created and can only be used within the same platform since we'll be installing the packages from the text file and dependency issues may arise.

• Create a new empty environment mtest. Replace mtest with name of your choice

conda create --name mtest

• Locate the pack-file.txt from your directory and remove any packages you don't want installed in the new environment. Make sure ipykernel is in the list if you want Jupiter notebooks to work correctly in the environment

Remember if you are duplicating the base environment you need to locate the following packages and remove them from the file:

• Deactivate the active environments and make sure there is no environment enclosed in () before your folder path:

• Run this to install the packages in the new environment

conda install --name mtest --file pack-file.txt

Conda does not check architecture or dependencies when installing from a txt file. To ensure that the packages work correctly, make sure that the file was created from a working environment, and use it on the same architecture, operating system, and platform, such as linux-64,osx-64 or win-64.

• The final step is to link your environment to jupyter using kernels. Activate your environment conda activate mtest

Run:

python -m ipykernel install --user --name=mtest

Now the kernel can be found in your Jupyter notebooks.

There you go! I hope this was helpful.