Import a module from a relative path

Be sure that dirBar has the __init__.py file -- this makes a directory into a Python package.

You could also add the subdirectory to your Python path so that it imports as a normal script.

import sys
sys.path.insert(0, <path to dirFoo>)
import Bar

If you structure your project this way:

src\
  __init__.py
  main.py
  dirFoo\
    __init__.py
    Foo.py
  dirBar\
    __init__.py
    Bar.py

Then from Foo.py you should be able to do:

import dirFoo.Foo

Or:

from dirFoo.Foo import FooObject

Per Tom's comment, this does require that the src folder is accessible either via site_packages or your search path. Also, as he mentions, __init__.py is implicitly imported when you first import a module in that package/directory. Typically __init__.py is simply an empty file.

The easiest method is to use sys.path.append().

However, you may be also interested in the imp module. It provides access to internal import functions.

# mod_name is the filename without the .py/.pyc extention
py_mod = imp.load_source(mod_name,filename_path) # Loads .py file
py_mod = imp.load_compiled(mod_name,filename_path) # Loads .pyc file 

This can be used to load modules dynamically when you don't know a module's name.

I've used this in the past to create a plugin type interface to an application, where the user would write a script with application specific functions, and just drop thier script in a specific directory.

Also, these functions may be useful:

imp.find_module(name[, path])
imp.load_module(name, file, pathname, description)

This is the relevant PEP:

http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0328/

In particular, presuming dirFoo is a directory up from dirBar...

In dirFoo\Foo.py:

from ..dirBar import Bar

Add an __init__.py file:

dirFoo\
    Foo.py
    dirBar\
        __init__.py
        Bar.py

Then add this code to the start of Foo.py:

import sys
sys.path.append('dirBar')
import Bar

Simply you can use: from Desktop.filename import something

Example:

given that the file is name test.py in directory Users/user/Desktop , and will import everthing.

the code:

from Desktop.test import *

But make sure you make an empty file called "__init__.py" in that directory

I'm not experienced about python, so if there is any wrong in my words, just tell me. If your file hierarchy arranged like this:

project\
    module_1.py 
    module_2.py

module_1.py defines a function called func_1(), module_2.py:

from module_1 import func_1

def func_2():
    func_1()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    func_2()

and you run python module_2.py in cmd, it will do run what func_1() defines. That's usually how we import same hierarchy files. But when you write from .module_1 import func_1 in module_2.py, python interpreter will say No module named '__main__.module_1'; '__main__' is not a package. So to fix this, we just keep the change we just make, and move both of the module to a package, and make a third module as a caller to run module_2.py.

project\
    package_1\
        module_1.py
        module_2.py
    main.py

main.py:

from package_1.module_2 import func_2

def func_3():
    func_2()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    func_3()

But the reason we add a . before module_1 in module_2.py is that if we don't do that and run main.py, python interpreter will say No module named 'module_1', that's a little tricky, module_1.py is right beside module_2.py. Now I let func_1() in module_1.py do something:

def func_1():
    print(__name__)

that __name__ records who calls func_1. Now we keep the . before module_1 , run main.py, it will print package_1.module_1, not module_1. It indicates that the one who calls func_1() is at the same hierarchy as main.py, the . imply that module_1 is at the same hierarchy as module_2.py itself. So if there isn't a dot, main.py will recognize module_1 at the same hierarchy as itself, it can recognize package_1, but not what "under" it.

Now let's make it a bit complicated. You have a config.ini and a module defines a function to read it at the same hierarchy as 'main.py'.

project\
    package_1\
        module_1.py
        module_2.py
    config.py
    config.ini
    main.py

And for some unavoidable reason, you have to call it with module_2.py, so it has to import from upper hierarchy.module_2.py:

 import ..config
 pass

Two dots means import from upper hierarchy (three dots access upper than upper,and so on). Now we run main.py, the interpreter will say:ValueError:attempted relative import beyond top-level package. The "top-level package" at here is main.py. Just because config.py is beside main.py, they are at same hierarchy, config.py isn't "under" main.py, or it isn't "leaded" by main.py, so it is beyond main.py. To fix this, the simplest way is:

project\
    package_1\
        module_1.py
        module_2.py
    config.py
    config.ini
main.py

I think that is coincide with the principle of arrange project file hierarchy, you should arrange modules with different function in different folders, and just leave a top caller in the outside, and you can import how ever you want.

This also works, and is much simpler than anything with the sys module:

with open("C:/yourpath/foobar.py") as f:
    eval(f.read())