How to import other Python files?

Posted By: Anonymous

How do I import other files in Python?

1. How exactly can I import a specific python file like import file.py?
2. How can I import a folder instead of a specific file?
3. I want to load a Python file dynamically at runtime, based on user
   input.
4. I want to know how to load just one specific part from the file.

For example, in main.py I have:

from extra import * 

Although this gives me all the definitions in extra.py, when maybe all I want is a single definition:

def gap():
    print
    print

What do I add to the import statement to just get gap from extra.py?

Solution

importlib was added to Python 3 to programmatically import a module.

import importlib

moduleName = input('Enter module name:')
importlib.import_module(moduleName)

The .py extension should be removed from moduleName. The function also defines a package argument for relative imports.

In python 2.x:

• Just import file without the .py extension
• A folder can be marked as a package, by adding an empty __init__.py file
• You can use the __import__ function, which takes the module name (without extension) as a string extension

pmName = input('Enter module name:')
pm = __import__(pmName)
print(dir(pm))

Type help(__import__) for more details.

Answered By: Anonymous

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