python: importing a file that is not a valid identifier?

Question

I have a script "7update.py" and would like to import it. Is there any way to do this? I can't just type import 7update because it starts with a number so it's not a valid identifier. I've tried using import('7update') but that doesn't work.

Very similar question [here](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/9090079/in-python-how-to-import-filename-starts-with-a-number) -- well, it's "8puzzle" instead of "7update".. — DSM, Mar 14 '12 at 15:39

score 4 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 14 '12 at 15:37

4

You can, but you have to refer to it by a valid identifier, like that:

__import__('7update')
sevenupdate = sys.modules['7update']

answered Mar 14 '12 at 15:37

yachoor

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score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 14 '12 at 15:38

4

seven_up = __import__("7update")

Where seven_up is valid identifier you're going to be using in your python code for that module.

answered Mar 14 '12 at 15:38

vartec

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score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 14 '12 at 15:34

Here is an example from the docs:

import imp
import sys

def __import__(name, globals=None, locals=None, fromlist=None):
    # Fast path: see if the module has already been imported.
    try:
        return sys.modules[name]
    except KeyError:
        pass

    # If any of the following calls raises an exception,
    # there's a problem we can't handle -- let the caller handle it.

    fp, pathname, description = imp.find_module(name)

    try:
        return imp.load_module(name, fp, pathname, description)
    finally:
        # Since we may exit via an exception, close fp explicitly.
        if fp:
            fp.close()

python: importing a file that is not a valid identifier?

3 Answers3