How do I load a file into the python console?

Question

I have some lines of python code that I'm continuously copying/pasting into the python console. Is there a load command or something I can run? e.g. load file.py

When import file is used, variables in file cannot be accessed. — Kadir
– Kadir, Commented Jul 2, 2013 at 16:05

Arafangion · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-12 01:35:57Z

257

From the man page:

-i When a script is passed as first argument or the -c option is used, enter interactive mode after executing the script or the command. It does not read the $PYTHONSTARTUP file. This can be useful to inspect global variables or a stack trace when a script raises an exception.

So this should do what you want:

python -i file.py

answered Mar 12, 2011 at 1:35

Arafangion

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5 Comments

SomeShinyObject Over a year ago

This is a great way to go if you are not yet in the console. Thanks for the tip Arafangion

Asalle Over a year ago

how does one reload the file.py if the file has changed? python3.8+

RichieHH Over a year ago

The question was clearly to load the file when already in the console.

Arafangion Over a year ago

@RichieHH: A full decade of stack overflow visitors have found it a useful answer, however, and the original question might have been ambiguous and has since been edited...

Arafangion Over a year ago

@Asalle: For your question, you should put that up as a separate question, however take a look at stackoverflow.com/questions/31410419/python-reload-file

Maurice · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-16 20:37:04Z

213

For Python 2 give execfile a try. (See other answers for Python 3)

execfile('file.py')

Example usage:
Let's use "copy con" to quickly create a small script file...

C:\junk>copy con execfile_example.py
a = [9, 42, 888]
b = len(a)
^Z
        1 file(s) copied.

...and then let's load this script like so:

C:\junk>\python27\python
Python 2.7.1 (r271:86832, Nov 27 2010, 18:30:46) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> execfile('execfile_example.py')
>>> a
[9, 42, 888]
>>> b
3
>>>

edited Feb 16, 2021 at 20:37

Maurice

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answered Mar 12, 2011 at 1:34

John Machin

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3 Comments

CodyBugstein Over a year ago

Can you explain your usage of copy con? From what I'm reading it's only used to copy files computerhope.com/copyhlp.htm

I. J. Kennedy Over a year ago

He copied from the console (treated as a file) to execfile_example.py. ^Z is end of file. It's just a way to get text into a file without opening an editor.

Barry McNamara Over a year ago

See the answer from @Arafangion if you are not yet in the console.

h1618 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-08 09:53:27Z

135

Python 3: new exec (execfile dropped) !

The execfile solution is valid only for Python 2. Python 3 dropped the execfile function - and promoted the exec statement to a builtin universal function. As the comment in Python 3.0's changelog and Hi-Angels comment suggest:

use

exec(open(<filename.py>).read())

instead of

execfile(<filename.py>)

answered Apr 8, 2016 at 9:53

h1618

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4 Comments

Rylan Schaeffer Over a year ago

if the file contains import statements e.g. import os, does exec() execute those statements? I'm trying this currently and the answer appears to be no...

Max Wen Over a year ago

it should be noted that filename.py is a string and so should be in quotes. i.e. exec(open("mypythonfile.py").read())

Motorhead Over a year ago

how do you supply any arguments that the program being executed needs?

boulder_ruby Over a year ago

Man that's ugly

Fred Foo · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-12 17:43:51Z

37

From the shell command line:

python file.py

From the Python command line

import file

or

from file import *

edited Mar 12, 2011 at 17:43

answered Mar 12, 2011 at 1:33

Fred Foo

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5 Comments

Santa Over a year ago

And reload(file) when you've changed something in it.

kindall Over a year ago

That's from file import *, not import * from file

CodyBugstein Over a year ago

Does the file need to be a in specific director? I'm trying it with its full path and it's not working.

Seth Over a year ago

import directory.subdirectory.file

Daniel C. Sobral Over a year ago

@Seth That's a relative path, isn't it? How about an absolute path?

slm · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-02 21:40:12Z

25

You can just use an import statement:

from file import *

So, for example, if you had a file named my_script.py you'd load it like so:

from my_script import *

edited Jul 2, 2015 at 21:40

slm

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answered Mar 12, 2011 at 1:35

amicitas

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2 Comments

user1529540 Over a year ago

what does the * mean?

amicitas Over a year ago

The * in this context means to import all names in the script into the current scope. So if you are running this directly from the python command prompt then any variables, functions, etc. that you defined in your script would be available in your python session.

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:34:50Z

6

Open command prompt in the folder in which you files to be imported are present. when you type 'python', python terminal will be opened. Now you can use

import script_name

Note: no .py extension to be used while importing.
How can I open a cmd window in a specific location?

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:34

CommunityBot

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answered Apr 8, 2016 at 5:05

infinity

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Comments

yoni · Accepted Answer · 2014-05-08 18:00:20Z

5

If you're using IPython, you can simply run:

%load path/to/your/file.py

See http://ipython.org/ipython-doc/rel-1.1.0/interactive/tutorial.html

answered May 8, 2014 at 18:00

yoni

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Comments

user669677 · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-26 13:44:19Z

0

If your path environment variable contains Python (eg. C:\Python27\) you can run your py file simply from Windows command line (cmd). Howto here.

answered Aug 26, 2014 at 13:44

user669677

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