data file for .exe program to access

[Larz60+]

My question is, is it possible to write a standalone .exe python program that can access the 'data' not from within the program itself, but from an external data file separate from the program.

Most all programming languages allow for file access, python included.

So the answer to your question is yes. To see all the methods available, with many examples see:
https://docs.python.org/3/library/filesy...ory-access

Since python is an intrepreted language, you will have to take extra steps to create to an executable, but it's simple enough.
Most scripts are run from the python intrepreter, unless they need to be distributed, and for that there is extensive support.