[Biopython] [Entrez] HTTPError 414

[Peter Cock]

On Sun, Dec 20, 2015 at 7:32 PM,  <c.buhtz at posteo.jp> wrote:
> I create a "long" search term for Entrez.eSearch which results in an
> URL 9998 characters long (search on 32 journals per ISSN).

Are you still using Biopython 1.66, or the code from Git which
will now automatically switch to an HTTP POST for long URLs?

> Using this url (per copy and paste) in Firefox works without any
> problems.
>
> But using it with BioPython or more spcific urllib I get an HTTPError
> 414 back.
>
> I am not sure but I think urllib itself doesn't check the URL-length.
> It is the NCBI-server who throw back the 414.
>
> But why does the server handle urllib and Firefox different?

Strange, but possible. Long URLs can also be a problem with
firewalls, proxies, and so depend on your internet connection.

Peter