Prevent code duplication by importing files in Python

Question

When using PHP, I write code in a separate file that I include using require_once() or include_once(). Is there something similar in Python as well?

I read this answer: Is there an alternative python function does as PHP include() function?

The file I want to run in run.py. The file I want to include is funcs.py. The funcs.py file is located inside a folder called includes. The folder includes and run.py are in the same location.

I created an empty file __init__.py. I use from includes import funcs. However, I get the error No Module named includes.

What am I doing wrong?

Does this answer your question? [Import a file from a subdirectory?](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1260792/import-a-file-from-a-subdirectory) — Tomerikoo, Mar 06 '21 at 11:04
@Tomerikoo That did not resolve the error either. The `__init__` file is inside includes folder. — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:07
I don't think you can do `from includes import funcs`. Does `import includes.funcs` work? — Tomerikoo, Mar 06 '21 at 11:08
And are you sure that the folder name you posted in the question is the same as those in the file system? — user202729, Mar 06 '21 at 11:08
@Tomerikoo I tried them both, None of them work. I am running the file `run.py` from the command line. Does that change anything? — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:08
But but... `inlucdes` and `includes` is definitely not the same. — user202729, Mar 06 '21 at 11:13
Hehe sorry about that. It was just a typo in the question. The actual folder is definitely `includes`. :) — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:14
Add more info. How are you running the file? Where are you placing the init file? — user202729, Mar 06 '21 at 11:16
@user202729 The file relies on a larger project I installed using `pip` install manimgl`. Will that affect the import because it worked on other file I created. — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:16
@user202729 I run the file using `manimgl run.py Examples -o --file_name pce-02` where `Examples` is a class inside `run.py` and other parameters are for `manimgl`. — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:17
Let's say there is a function `foo` in `funcs.py` then you need to do `import includes.funcs` and then call `funcs.foo()` — Tomerikoo, Mar 06 '21 at 11:27
@Tomerikoo I get the error on the import line itself. So, I don't even get to the point where I could call `funcs.foo()`. — Real Noob, Mar 06 '21 at 11:30
Sorrybuddy, the link I provided above seems to match your case exactly and it has around 10 answers. Follow them and if none work dewcribe here what you tried and how it fails — Tomerikoo, Mar 06 '21 at 11:50

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 06 '21 at 10:54

0

In this case you don't need __init__.py if you're using Python 3. The following structure should work:

run.py
includes/
    funcs.py

If you're running this script from the folder with your run.py then the following should work:

from includes import funcs

answered Mar 06 '21 at 10:54

tpwo

484
3
12

Thanks @triwz. :) I still get the same error. The file `run.py` has `#!/usr/bin/env python` at the top. Does that change anything? – Real Noob Mar 06 '21 at 10:57
@RealNoob Do you use Linux? Usually, it is `python3` as `python` is referring to Python 2. You can try to run the script from the terminal with `python3 run.py` to ignore the shebang line (`#!`) – tpwo Mar 06 '21 at 11:09
@triwz I am on windows and I run `run.py` through command line. :) – Real Noob Mar 06 '21 at 11:10

Prevent code duplication by importing files in Python

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