Importing submodule in a submodule - Python

Question

I am trying to import a submodule withing a seperate submodule using python. Here is my directory structure

I am trying to do this in process_qc.py

from package.database import database

d = database.Database('spark')
print(d.sparkSelect('SHOW DATABASES'))

It gives me error: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'package'

Ah, I see that now. Are you running `process_qc.py` from inside that script? — gmdev, Jul 20 '21 at 13:41
app.py is in the wrong place, it should be in the same directory as the readme — Andrew Allaire, Jul 20 '21 at 13:41
i am trying to run it directly. Like so: python package/application/process_qc.py — Rhythem Aggarwal, Jul 20 '21 at 13:41
@AndrewAllaire app.py is just a blank file right now. that's not being used — Rhythem Aggarwal, Jul 20 '21 at 13:42
You need to call the script from that directory where the readme.md is. If you are calling python process_qc.py from where it is it won't work. But the import should work if it is called by app.py when app.py is in the right placek — Andrew Allaire, Jul 20 '21 at 13:43
I see. I'll move app.py to the folder outside, and import stuff and try and test. — Rhythem Aggarwal, Jul 20 '21 at 13:44
Moving the call to app.py and moving it outside of the package folder worked. Thanks both — Rhythem Aggarwal, Jul 20 '21 at 13:49
@gmdev I don't think you need `__init__.py` any more: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37139786/is-init-py-not-required-for-packages-in-python-3-3 — Peter Wood, Jul 20 '21 at 13:52
You need your working directory to contain `package`, then it will be added to PYTHONPATH and found automatically. — Peter Wood, Jul 20 '21 at 13:53

JoostVn · Answer 1 · 2021-07-20T13:57:07.920

2

You can try doing this with relative imports:

from ..database import database

edited Jul 20 '21 at 13:57

answered Jul 20 '21 at 13:48

JoostVn

242
1
9

Thanks, this works. i was looking for an absolute import method to work as well. – Rhythem Aggarwal Jul 20 '21 at 13:50
I added it to the answer! Does that work for you? Edit: woops, I did it wrong. No time do dive deeper into it right now, sorry. – JoostVn Jul 20 '21 at 13:57

gmdev · Accepted Answer · 2021-07-20T14:07:07.100

Python does not know where package exists when you use an absolute import. This is because Python first looks in the built-in modules and then at directories listed in sys.path for the requested import. If the import is not found, the current working directory is prepended to sys.path.

To use absolute imports, you should either:

Execute the script from outside the package directory so that the package directory is discoverable from a path listed in sys.path.
Add the package directory to your PYTHONPATH:

$ export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH':path/to/package'

Importing submodule in a submodule - Python

2 Answers2