Importing submodule in a submodule - Python

Question

I am trying to import a submodule withing a seperate submodule using python. Here is my directory structure

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I am trying to do this in process_qc.py

from package.database import database
d = database.Database('spark')
print(d.sparkSelect('SHOW DATABASES'))

It gives me error: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'package'

• gmdev: There is no __init__.py in the package directory.
• Rhythem Aggarwal: There is, right above the test folder
• gmdev: Ah, I see that now. Are you running process_qc.py from inside that script?
• Andrew Allaire: app.py is in the wrong place, it should be in the same directory as the readme
• Andrew Allaire: You need to call the script from that directory where the readme.md is. If you are calling python process_qc.py from where it is it won't work. But the import should work if it is called by app.py when app.py is in the right placek

Answer 1

You can try doing this with relative imports:

from ..database import database

• Rhythem Aggarwal: Thanks, this works. i was looking for an absolute import method to work as well.
• JoostVn: I added it to the answer! Does that work for you? Edit: woops, I did it wrong. No time do dive deeper into it right now, sorry.

Answer 2

Python does not know where package exists when you use an absolute import. This is because Python first looks in the built-in modules and then at directories listed in sys.path for the requested import. If the import is not found, the current working directory is prepended to sys.path.

To use absolute imports, you should either:

1. Execute the script from outside the package directory so that the package directory is discoverable from a path listed in sys.path.
2. Add the package directory to your PYTHONPATH:

$ export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH':path/to/package'