Import a module from a relative path

Question

How do I import a Python module given its relative path? For example, if `dirFoo` contains `Foo.py` and `dirBar`, and `dirBar` contains `Bar.py`, how do I import `Bar.py` into `Foo.py`? Here's a visual representation: ``` dirFoo\ Foo.py dirBar\ Bar.py ``` `Foo` wishes to include `Bar`, but restructuring the folder hierarchy is not an option.

Accepted Answer

Assuming that both your directories are real Python packages (do have the `__init__.py` file inside them), here is a safe solution for inclusion of modules relatively to the location of the script.

I assume that you want to do this, because you need to include a set of modules with your script. I use this in production in several products and works in many special scenarios like: scripts called from another directory or executed with python execute instead of opening a new interpreter.

```
 import os, sys, inspect
 # realpath() will make your script run, even if you symlink it :)
 cmd_folder = os.path.realpath(os.path.abspath(os.path.split(inspect.getfile( inspect.currentframe() ))[0]))
 if cmd_folder not in sys.path:
     sys.path.insert(0, cmd_folder)

# Use this if you want to include modules from a subfolder
 cmd_subfolder = os.path.realpath(os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.split(inspect.getfile( inspect.currentframe() ))[0],"subfolder")))
 if cmd_subfolder not in sys.path:
     sys.path.insert(0, cmd_subfolder)

# Info:
 # cmd_folder = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)) # DO NOT USE __file__ !!!
 # __file__ fails if the script is called in different ways on Windows.
 # __file__ fails if someone does os.chdir() before.
 # sys.argv[0] also fails, because it doesn't not always contains the path.
```

As a bonus, this approach does let you force Python to use your module instead of the ones installed on the system.

Warning! I don't really know what is happening when current module is inside an `egg` file. It probably fails too.

Import a module from a relative path

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