How can I import a module named [userinput] in Python 3.6?

Question

I'm trying to take the user's input, and see if there's a module named whatever they input. If there is, I then want that module to be imported, and to call a function within it of the same name. I know there are more simple ways of doing this, but I wanted to try and make it super compact.

This was my idea:

userinput = str.lower(input(prompt))
try:
    import (userinput) as _(userinput)
    _(userinput).(userinput)
except:
    print("Module not found")

If it couldn't find a module with the name given, it would simply trip the exception and continue.

My problem is being able to import a module from the string given from the input.

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 20 '17 at 23:24

0

userinput = str.lower(input(prompt))
try:
    exec("import %s as _(userinput)"%(userinput))
    #_(userinput).(userinput)  ???????
except:
    print("Module not found")

The exec() part works, but I'm not sure what you want to do with the _(userinput).(userinput)

answered Feb 20 '17 at 23:24

Phonzi

144
3
9

If you don't care if a user types `os;os.remove('~')#` this would work. – Nick T Feb 20 '17 at 23:28
Using `exec("{}. _{}" .format(userinput,userinput))` will probably work, just not recognizing the module I wish to import. – Jonny Butler Feb 20 '17 at 23:30
What do you mean by "recognizing the module"? – Phonzi Feb 20 '17 at 23:31
So if I run that and input the name of the module, it trips the exception instead of importing and running the module. – Jonny Butler Feb 20 '17 at 23:33
Okay I fixed the problem, thanks. – Jonny Butler Feb 20 '17 at 23:42

kindall · Answer 2 · 2017-02-22T18:42:13.737

0

Use the __import__ function.

userinput = input("Enter name of module to import: ")
module = __import__(userinput)

edited Feb 22 '17 at 18:42

answered Feb 20 '17 at 23:33

kindall

178,883
35
278
309

How can I import a module named [userinput] in Python 3.6?

2 Answers2