Running a second python script before continuing with the first

Question

I have been trying to figure out how to call a second script and get it to run before continuing on with my current one.

I have my first script (file1.py) which defines a string called PATH_DATA. The second script (file2.py) imports PATH_DATA using:

from file1 import PATH_DATA

Then runs some functions and outputs data to a new filepath. Then the first script should continue, defining the new file path PATH_DATA_2.

I am currently trying to acheive this using:

exec(open('file2.py').read())

which works fine for the most part. The problem is the entire script (file1) seems to be running twice all the way through, instead of once. Is there a fix to this? or a better way for me to achieve the end result? (I am using Python 3).

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you want to continue using your current workflow, wrap anything with side effects in file1 like this, and define the variable you want to import outside of it.

PATH_DATA = "your/path"
if __name__ == "__main__":
 print("do stuff with side effects")

The stuff under "if name equals main" is not run when file1 is imported.

I would personally just import a function that wraps the functionality from file2 into file1 and pass it the path as an argument though. Seems more explicit and simple.