Python imports from subfolders

Question

I am attempting to grade some python submissions that are in separate folders for each student. To do this, there is a function, say f() which I want to run. I understand that if my current path is the same as the one where the file is located, I can simply do

import filename
filename.f()

However, are there better ways? For instance, let's say the directory structure is as follows:

main.py
student/run_this.py

I know that if there is a "__init__.py" file in the student folder, I can just type

import student.run_this

However, without that file, it doesn't work.

Some similar questions I found were

• Import module from subfolder
• How to do relative imports in Python?
• http://www.daniweb.com/software-development/python/threads/192000/import-from-a-subdirectory-of-a-directory-on-pythonpath

but none of these gave particularly satisfying answers.

Answer 1

create an __init__.py module inside the folder student which should contain

from . import *

You can then call any modules from student folder to its parent folder modules as

import student.module.py

If you post any other errors you are facing, we can help further.