Importing same name file from different directory in python?

Question

I have a directory structure like -

D
- dir1
  - filetoimport.py
- dir2
  - filetoimport.py
  - run.py

Filetoimport.py code-

call_function()
    do_something
    return

Run.py has -

import filetoimport
filetoimport.call_function()

the dir2 is essentially a copy of dir1 with some changes but run.py is still calling filetoimport from dir1. I don't get what am I missing here?

EDIT 1- dir1 and dir2 are not packages but just plain directories.

It is not recommanded to call modules with the same name. Have you put an __init__. py file in each package? Finaly you should call it from the root. from dir2 import filetoimport — Florian Bernard
– Florian Bernard, Commented Oct 25, 2019 at 10:35
Use correct folder structure and make sure you're in correct working directory! | As for colliding names, with correct folder structure you can do from package.module import needed_function, or import package.module (qualified name with package name), or import package.module as different_name (you can do as on single functions with colliding names as well!) — h4z3
– h4z3, Commented Oct 25, 2019 at 10:44
@user2828360 from D.dir2 import filetoimport. And you should have init file in each directory. — Florian Bernard
– Florian Bernard, Commented Oct 25, 2019 at 10:56

Lior Cohen · Accepted Answer · 2019-10-25 10:37:50Z

2

I suppose you are running your code from dir1 as the working directory (you can check with os.get_cwd()). Change your working directory to dir2 and it should import the filetoimport.py under dir2.

If you want to be sure what was imported you can print(fileimport.__file__)

answered Oct 25, 2019 at 10:37

Lior Cohen

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3 Comments

user2828360 Over a year ago

It doesnt seem to work. print(os.getcwd()) shows the correct directory

Lior Cohen Over a year ago

your working directory is dir2? what fileimport.__file__ shows? Are u running it from simple shell or from ide?

Lior Cohen Over a year ago

if you print sys.path, do you see dir1 there? did you set the PYTHONPATH environment variable?

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