Trying to import a module by path fails

Question

I have a module located in a different directory. I want to import it in another module. When I try to import from the directory, I get a syntax error. How do I import other local modules?

from "C:\User\Sam\module" import abc 

Answer 1

Ideally, you should build and install packages the standard way. Using a virtualenv and pip will set up your path for you, and install/symlink modules in a standard location. If for some reason you don't want to do that, see below.

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If the module is not in the working directory you started Python from, add the folder containing your module to the path, then import the module by name.

import sys
sys.path.insert(0'C:/User/Sam/local_modules')
import my_module

Modifying the path is never necessary if you follow the standard package guidelines.