execfile() in python , using it for user input

Question

I am trying to take in a filename from a user and then use execfile() to execute the file. Below is my code:

print "Please enter the name of the file"
filename = raw_input().split(".")[0]
module = __import__(filename)
execfile(module)             <-- this is where I want to execute the file

I understand that execfile() works as follows:

execfile("example.py")

I am unsure on how to do this when the filename is passed as a variable . I am using python 2.7.

You already import the file, you now have executable code, why the need to run the module through the execfile() function? — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Dec 7, 2012 at 20:51
This is being run in another program , I have no idea what the code is in the program ( whose name the user enters) , so I want to execute it and catch exceptions . Since I do not know what the main is in the undefined function , I need to execute it once — user1801279
– user1801279, Commented Dec 7, 2012 at 20:57

jfs · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-09 00:13:01Z

4

Drop the import and exec the filename. You need the .py extension with this method and it will run any if __name__ == '__main__' section:

filename = raw_input("Please enter the name of the file: ")
execfile(filename)

If you just want to import it, you need to strip the '.py' and it will not execute an if __name__ == '__main__' section:

filename = raw_input("Please enter the name of the file: ").split(".")[0]
module = __import__(filename)

edited Dec 9, 2012 at 0:13

jfs

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answered Dec 7, 2012 at 20:59

Mark Tolonen

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2 Comments

user1801279 Over a year ago

Thank you , If possible could you just give me a hint on where I went wrong?

user1801279 Over a year ago

Yes , I apologise for that , I stripped it on purpose because of the fact that I do not know if the user will enter the extension .py . so just to be sure I take the input , strip it and append a .py to it

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