Unable to import a function from outside the current working directory

Question

I am currently having difficulties import some functions which are located in a python file which is in the parent directory of the working directory of the main flask application script. Here's how the structure looks like

project_folder
- public
--app.py
-scripts.py

here's a replica code for app.py:

def some_function():
    from scripts import func_one, func_two
    func_one()
    func_two()
    print('done')


if __name__ == "__main__":
    some_function()

scripts.py contain the function as such:

def func_one():
    print('function one successfully imported')


def func_two():
    print('function two successfully imported')

What is the pythonic way of importing those functions in my app.py?

Alec · Accepted Answer · 2019-05-23T21:31:02.497

1

Precede it with a dot so that it searches the current directory (project_folder) instead of your python path:

from .scripts import func_one, func_two

The details of relative imports are described in PEP 328

Edit: I assumed you were working with a package. Consider adding an __init__.py file.

Anyways, you can import anything in python by altering the system path:

import sys
sys.path.append("/path/to/directory")
from x import y

edited May 23 '19 at 21:31

answered May 23 '19 at 21:21

Alec

8,529
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1

I tried that and I got: `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.scripts'; '__main__' is not a package` – Mysterio May 23 '19 at 21:24
Is there an \_\_init__.py? If so, what's the \_\_name__? – Alec May 23 '19 at 21:25
There's no __init__.py anywhere as per structure that I have shown to you. – Mysterio May 23 '19 at 21:26
Where should the init file be placed? – Mysterio May 23 '19 at 22:04

ilias iliadis · Answer 2 · 2019-05-23T22:05:55.303

1

1.

import importlib.util

def loadbasic():
    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("basic", os.path.join(os.path.split(__file__)[0], 'basic.py'))
    basic = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
    spec.loader.exec_module(basic)
    return basic #returns a module

Or create an empty file __init__.py in the directory.

And

do not pollute your path with appends.

edited May 23 '19 at 22:05

answered May 23 '19 at 21:45

ilias iliadis

601
8
15

Which of the folders should the init file be placed in? – Mysterio May 23 '19 at 22:02
1

better to all your paths. See also https://stackoverflow.com/questions/448271/what-is-init-py-for – ilias iliadis May 23 '19 at 22:08

Unable to import a function from outside the current working directory

2 Answers2