Python: Dynamically importing a script in another folder from a string

Question

I need to import and run a script from a string (path) which is located in another folder. The input needs to be completely dynamic. The code below works when the file is in the same folder but I can't seem to get it working when the file is located elsewhere.

main.py

path = 'bin\TestScript'

module = __import__(path)

my_class = getattr(module, '__main__')

instance = my_class(3,16)

print(instance)

TestScript.py

def __main__(a,b):

    return(a*b)

Get the errror: ImportError: No module named 'bin\\TestScript'

on windows os

Get the errror: ImportError: No module named 'bin\\TestScript' — Patrick
– Patrick, Commented Oct 14, 2016 at 7:48
bin\TestScript is not a module name. The correct name would be something like bin.TestScript. Module names != file paths. — deceze
– deceze ♦, Commented Oct 14, 2016 at 7:50
What is the input like? Could you give an example of that input? — Gourav Chawla
– Gourav Chawla, Commented Oct 14, 2016 at 7:55

cdarke · Accepted Answer · 2016-10-14 08:06:19Z

2

You need to separate the directory from the module name and add that to the module search path. For example:

import os.path
import sys

path = 'bin\\TestScript'
mdir = os.path.dirname(path)
modname = os.path.basename(path)
sys.path.append(mdir)

module = __import__(modname)

my_class = getattr(module, '__main__')

instance = my_class(3,16)

print(instance)

An alternative is to make the directory "bin" a package.

answered Oct 14, 2016 at 8:06

cdarke

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