Python 3 - importing .py file in same directory - ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.char'; '__main__' is not a package

Question

I'm using Python 3.6 on Windows 10. I have 2 .py files in the same directory, char.py, and char_user.py, as follows:

char.py:

# char.py

import cv2

#######################################################################################################################
class Char:

    # constructor #####################################################################################################
    def __init__(self):
        self.contour = None
        self.centerOfMassX = None
        self.centerOfMassY = None
    # end def

# end class

char_user.py:

# char_user.py

import os
import cv2

# I've tried this various ways, see more comments below
from .char import Char

#######################################################################################################################
def main():

    char = Char()

    char.centerOfMassX = 0
    char.centerOfMassY = 0

    print("finished main() without error")
# end main

#######################################################################################################################
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

No matter what I try, on the line in char_user.py where I'm attempting to import file char.py, class Char, I get the error:

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.char'; '__main__' is not a package

Here are some of the ways I've tried the import statement in char_user.py:

from .char import Char
from . import Char
import Char
import char

I've tried both with and without an empty __init__.py in the same directory.

I've consulted these posts but none have been able to provide a resolution:

How to import the class within the same directory or sub directory?

ModuleNotFoundError: What does it mean __main__ is not a package?

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '__main__.xxxx'; '__main__' is not a package

This is the 1st time in Python 3 I've attempted to import a script that I wrote in the same directory (done this many times in Python 2 without concern).

Is there a way to do this? What am I missing?

Answer 1

try this: from char import Char

Answer 2

I was able to get this working with from char import Char, because you are trying to import the class Char from script char.

As far as I am aware, the line from .char import Char is only used if both files were part of a python module (with its own __init__.py), which they are not. In that case, .char explicitly references the file char.py inside the same module folder, rather than from importing from some other module installed to PYTHONPATH.