Import Script from a Parent Directory

Question

How do I import a module(python file) that resides in the parent directory?

Both directories have a __init__.py file in them but I still cannot import a file from the parent directory?

In this folder layout, Script B is attempting to import Script A:

Folder A:

   __init__.py

   Script A:

   Folder B:

     __init__.py

     Script B(attempting to import Script A)

The following code in Script B doesn't work:

import ../scriptA.py # I get a compile error saying the "." is invalid

Answer 1

You shouldn't import scripts in Python but, you can import modules. Some python modules are also scripts that you can run directly (they do some useful work at a module-level).

In general, it is preferable to use absolute imports rather than relative imports like this:

toplevel_package/

├── __init__.py

├── moduleA.py

└── subpackage

    ├── __init__.py

    └── moduleB.py

In moduleB:

from toplevel_package import moduleA

If you want to run moduleB.py as a script then make sure that parent directory for toplevel_package is in your sys.path.

Answer 2

To import script from a parent directory if you want to run the script directly, you can follow the steps mentioned below:-

1. Add the folder's path to the environment variable (PYTHONPATH).

2. Add the path to sys.path in your script.

Then:

import module_you_wanted