How to Import from parent directory Python

Question

I am trying to import a file from the main directory using python. I tried several methods but no luck :(.

My file directory

|_ api
    |__init__.py
    |_api1.py
    |_api2.py
    |_api3.py
    |_api4.py
    |_api5.py
    |_api6.py
|__init__.py
|_api.py
|_db_ops.py

Challenge

I am trying to import some methods of api.py into api1.py and api2.py.

The solutions I have found were:

1. Add __ini__.py file
   I have added them as you can see but did not work.

2. import using `import api`
   did not worked rather throws an error **ModuleNotFoundError**

3. import using 'from . import api'
   throws an error "cannot import from unknown module"

4. even tried to create a parent folder **test** and then tried with import test.apicall  but still did not worked!

Any help.

Thanks

`api1.py` and `api2.py` are imported to the `api.py` file based on routes — Asad Mehmood, Feb 25 '22 at 12:55
The first step would probably be to use the correct file name `__init__.py`, with a "t". — fsimonjetz, Feb 25 '22 at 12:56
Sounds like you have a circular import, when you are trying to import `api1.py` into `api.py` and `api.py` into `api1.py`. https://stackoverflow.com/questions/22187279/python-circular-importing — Tzane, Feb 25 '22 at 12:59
@Tzane yeah exactly, and the answer you tagged. I am trying the same procedure but have no success, — Asad Mehmood, Feb 25 '22 at 13:01
You could try restructuring your code such that the common functions needed in both modules are defined in a separate module to avoid the circular import all together — Tzane, Feb 25 '22 at 13:04

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 25 '22 at 13:00

0

first of all, the file name is __init__.py and not __ini__.py. by default, you only can import directory from the same level or below where you are using the python command. example:

myproject/
  project/
    __init__.py
    foo.py
  bar.py

if the terminal in myproject and i run python project/foo.py, foo can import bar.py , but if i am myproject/project and i run python foo.py, foo cannot import bar.py

to change the default you can use

import sys
sys.path.append('path of my dir')

answered Feb 25 '22 at 13:00

J.Oliveira

1
2

thats what i am also wondering. I am in the myproject and running the command python project/foo.py it returns error as `ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'bar'` – Asad Mehmood Feb 25 '22 at 13:04
just a question. The file is api.py and the directory is also api/ ? – J.Oliveira Feb 25 '22 at 16:27

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Feb 25 '22 at 19:24

It depends on what you want to do. If you want to run a script in a lower-level folder, Python will not let you do it. On the other hand, let's say for simplicity you have the folder structure

mypackage/
   subpackage/
      __init__.py
      api1.py
   __init__.py
   api.py

If api.py looks like the following

def foo(a):
    print(a)

then in api1.py you can have a relative import like

from ..api import foo as f

Then you can't, however, run api1.py as a script, but you can use f as a function to extend things in api1.py or write a script with the content

from mypackage.subpackage.api1 import f

so in that case, it will look like the function foo was in api1.py.

I'll note that this was heavily inspired by the Python-documentation on relative imports... (https://docs.python.org/3/reference/import.html)

How to Import from parent directory Python

2 Answers2