In python, how to import filename starts with a nu

Question

Basically there is a file called 8puzzle.py and I want to import the file into another file (in the same folder and I cannot change the file name as the file is provided). Is there anyway to do this in Python? I tried usual way from 8puzzle import *, it gives me an error.

Error is:

>>> import 8puzzle
  File "<input>", line 1
    import 8puzzle
           ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax
>>> 

Answer 1

You could do

puzzle = __import__('8puzzle')

Very interesting problem. I'll remember not to name anything with a number.

If you'd like to import * -- you should check out this question and answer.

Answer 2

Don't use the .py extension in your imports.

Does from 8puzzle import * work?

For what it's worth, from x import * is not a preferred Python pattern, as it bleeds that module's namespace into your current context.

In general, try to import things you specifically want from that module. Any global from the other module can be imported.

e.g., if you have 8puzzle.foo you could do `from 8puzzle import

Edit:

While my .py message is correct, it isn't sufficient.

The other poster's __import__('8puzzle') suggestion is correct. However, I highly recommend avoiding this pattern.

For one, it's reserved an internal, private Python method. You are basically breaking the fundamental assumptions of what it means to be able to import a module. Simply renaming the file to something else, like puzzle8, will remedy this.

This will frustrate the hell out of experienced Python programmers who are expecting to know what your imports are at the top and are expecting code to (try to) conform to PEP8.

Answer 3

The above answers are correct, but as for now, the recommended way is to use import_module function:

importlib.import_module(name, package=None)
Import a module. The name argument specifies what module to import in absolute or relative terms (e.g. either pkg.mod or ..mod). If the name is specified in relative terms, then the package argument must be set to the name of the package which is to act as the anchor for resolving the package name (e.g. import_module('..mod', 'pkg.subpkg') will import pkg.mod).

The import_module() function acts as a simplifying wrapper around importlib.__import__(). This means all semantics of the function are derived from importlib.__import__(). The most important difference between these two functions is that import_module() returns the specified package or module (e.g. pkg.mod), while __import__() returns the top-level package or module (e.g. pkg).

If you are dynamically importing a module that was created since the interpreter began execution (e.g., created a Python source file), you may need to call invalidate_caches() in order for the new module to be noticed by the import system.

__import__ is not recommended now.

importlib.__import__(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=(), level=0)
An implementation of the built-in __import__() function.

Note Programmatic importing of modules should use import_module() instead of this function.