import a single function

Question

I'm just learning python so sorry for what is probably a simple question.

Following Zed Shaw's 'learn python the hard way' I made a little text game (ex36). It defines the functions start() and litroom(), then runs start(), which in turn runs litroom() depending on user input.

How would I import only the litroom() function to another file? If I try

from ex36 import litroom

it seems to import the lot and run start().

Thanks for any help!

• Manav Kataria: Import syntax is correct. Paste your code.
• Bruce: embed your code in ex36in the magic if __name__=='__main_': so it does not get executed at import

Answer 1

When you import from ex36, it will read the whole file and execute any code not inside function.

If you have

def start():
 print ("hello")
def litroom():
 start()
start()

in your ex36 file, your statement import ex36 or from ex36 import litroom will execute start. You should fix the code like that:

def start():
 print ("hello")
def litroom():
 start()
if __name__=='__main__':
 # magix trick : name value is the name of the file 
 # unless run as the "main" script where it's __main__
 start()

You can see What does if __name__ == "__main__": do?