Getting a Python Modules Dierctory from Inside Itself

Question

I have a Python module and I'd like to get that modules directory from inside itself. I want to do this because I have some files that I'd like to reference relative to the module.

Possible duplicate of this? http://stackoverflow.com/questions/247770/retrieving-python-module-path — Chris Cooper, Sep 28 '11 at 00:09

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 28 '11 at 00:16

3

First you need to get a reference to the module inside itself.

mod = sys.__modules__[__name__]

Then you can use __file__ to get to the module file.

mod.__file__

Its directory is a dirname of that.

answered Sep 28 '11 at 00:16

Nam Nguyen

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The `__file__` attribute was what I was looking for. – rectangletangle Sep 28 '11 at 01:18

Mark Gemmill · Answer 2 · 2011-09-28T00:56:24.520

3

As you are inside the module all you need is this:

import os
path_to_this_module = os.path.dirname(__file__)

However, if the module in question is actually your programs entry point, then __file__ will only be the name of the file and you'll need to expand the path:

import os
path_to_this_module = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))

edited Sep 28 '11 at 00:56

answered Sep 28 '11 at 00:51

Mark Gemmill

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score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 28 '11 at 00:09

2

I think this is what you are looking for:

import <module>
import os
print os.path.dirname(<module>.__file__)

answered Sep 28 '11 at 00:09

d0nut

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 28 '11 at 01:02

1

You should be using pkg_resources for this, the resource* family of functions do just about everything you need without having to muck about with the filesystem.

import pkg_resources
data = pkg_resources.resource_string(__name__, "some_file")

answered Sep 28 '11 at 01:02

SingleNegationElimination

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Getting a Python Modules Dierctory from Inside Itself

4 Answers4