How to execute file in Python with arguments using import?

Question

I read that you can execute a file using import like this
file.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python
import file2

file2.py:

#!/usr/bin/env python
print "Hello World!"

And file.py will print Hello World. How would I execute this file with arguments, using import?

stackoverflow.com/questions/20309456/…

LaneL
– LaneL

2016-09-23 22:09:01 +00:00
Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 22:09 — LaneL
– LaneL, Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 22:09
stackoverflow.com/a/3781960/391161

merlin2011
– merlin2011

2016-09-23 22:09:47 +00:00
Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 22:09 — merlin2011
– merlin2011, Commented Sep 23, 2016 at 22:09

tdelaney · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-23 22:14:12Z

1

Program arguments are available in sys.argv and can be used by any module. You could change file2.py to

import sys
print "Here are my arguments", sys.argv

You can use the argparse module for more complex parsing.

answered Sep 23, 2016 at 22:14

tdelaney

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5 Comments

Bharel Over a year ago

He doesn't want the arguments to be received from terminal. He wants to send them through the "import" statement.

tdelaney Over a year ago

@Bharel OP never stated where the arguments come from or how they are consumed in file2.py. He certainly did not say they were not standard program arguments.

skistaddy Over a year ago

@tdelaney I'm sorry, apparently my instructions weren't clear enough. But I want to execute a file using import, if possible.

tdelaney Over a year ago

@bjskistad - what do you mean by "execute"? Importing causes the module to be executed. Its __name__ is file2 instead of __main__ but otherwise it is pretty much the same as executing it directly from the command line.

tdelaney Over a year ago

Perhaps you could add a few lines to file2.py to show how you want to use the arguments and add some detail about where these arguments come from - is it from the command line? Is file1.py generating them?

Bharel · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-23 22:31:57Z

1

Import is not meant for execution of scripts. It is used in order to fetch or "import" functions, classes and attributes it contains.

If you wish to execute the script using a different interpreter, and give it arguments, you should use subprocess.run().

In Python 2 you may use subprocess.call() or subprocess.check_output() if you need the programs output.

edited Sep 23, 2016 at 22:31

answered Sep 23, 2016 at 22:11

Bharel

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3 Comments

tdelaney Over a year ago

Yes and no. If you install a package, modules aren't in the system PATH and its common to include helper scripts in the PATH to run them. Also, this import technique lets you fiddle with the system environment before the target script is run.

skistaddy Over a year ago

I'm using 2.7, is there any way to do this in 2.7? Or do I need to upgrade to 3.x?

Bharel Over a year ago

@bjskistad added for Python 2.

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