Python 3 - importing .py file in same directory - ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'main.char'; 'main' is not a package

Question

I'm using Python 3.6 on Windows 10. I have 2 .py files in the same directory, char.py, and char_user.py, as follows:

char.py:

# char.py

import cv2

#######################################################################################################################
class Char:

    # constructor #####################################################################################################
    def __init__(self):
        self.contour = None
        self.centerOfMassX = None
        self.centerOfMassY = None
    # end def

# end class

char_user.py:

# char_user.py

import os
import cv2

# I've tried this various ways, see more comments below
from .char import Char

#######################################################################################################################
def main():

    char = Char()

    char.centerOfMassX = 0
    char.centerOfMassY = 0

    print("finished main() without error")
# end main

#######################################################################################################################
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

No matter what I try, on the line in char_user.py where I'm attempting to import file char.py, class Char, I get the error:

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.char'; '__main__' is not a package

Here are some of the ways I've tried the import statement in char_user.py:

from .char import Char
from . import Char
import Char
import char

I've tried both with and without an empty __init__.py in the same directory.

I've consulted these posts but none have been able to provide a resolution:

How to import the class within the same directory or sub directory?

ModuleNotFoundError: What does it mean __main__ is not a package?

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.xxxx'; '__main__' is not a package

This is the 1st time in Python 3 I've attempted to import a script that I wrote in the same directory (done this many times in Python 2 without concern).

Is there a way to do this? What am I missing?

This works fine if I use `from char import Char` or just use `import char`. Use `.` would only work if there was a sub-package structure. So, I cannot reproduce this error. — juanpa.arrivillaga, Feb 20 '18 at 21:37
Could you explain why there's a dot here? `from .char import Char` — Yunkai Xiao, Feb 20 '18 at 21:38
@YunkaiXiao it's an [intrapackage import](https://docs.python.org/3.6/tutorial/modules.html#intra-package-references) — juanpa.arrivillaga, Feb 20 '18 at 21:39

score 8 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 20 '18 at 21:47

I was able to get this working with from char import Char, because you are trying to import the class Char from script char.

As far as I am aware, the line from .char import Char is only used if both files were part of a python module (with its own __init__.py), which they are not. In that case, .char explicitly references the file char.py inside the same module folder, rather than from importing from some other module installed to PYTHONPATH.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 20 '18 at 21:36

4

try this: from char import Char

answered Feb 20 '18 at 21:36

Dawit Abate

462
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Python 3 - importing .py file in same directory - ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.char'; '__main__' is not a package

2 Answers2

Python 3 - importing .py file in same directory - ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'main.char'; 'main' is not a package