Sys.path.insert inserts path to module but imports are not working

Question

I want to import a module in a project and it gives me lots of troubles because of an import error. So I decided to write a little test to see where the problem lies. I add a folder to my sys path and try to import it. And I get an Import Error: no module found named xyz

Like this:

import sys
import os

sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('../../myfolder'))
import myfolder
print(sys.path)

The sys.path is ['/Users/myuser/myproject/mywebsitefolder/myfolder/', ...]

myfolder contains an __init__.py file. Hardcoding the path to myfolder has same results. Other questions on the web solve the problem by either adding the correct path or by adding an init. But I have both I think and the problem remains.

I was under the impression that python looks in the system path for importable modules or do I misunderstand how this is supposed to work?

If I understand correctly, is there any way I can debug this further? Or could this be a problem with python versions?

Help is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Edit: Here is my structure of my directories

• mywebsitefolder
  • myfolder
    • api_supply
      • tests (contains all my tests with many files)
      • init.py
      • serializers.py
      • urls.py
      • views.py
    • api_demand
      • tests (contains all my tests with many files)
      • init.py
      • serializers.py
      • urls.py
      • views.py
    • migrations (folder)
    • templates (folder)
    • init.py
    • admin.py
    • apps.py
    • models.py
    • tests.py
    • urls.py
    • views.py

Spohr

If you're trying to import myfolder, it is the parent - ie mywebsitefolder - that you need to add to sys.path. – Vocalic

Thanks Daniel. I also tried this. Doing sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('/Users/myuser/myproject/mywebsitefolder/')) gives me the same error – Spohr

Can you show the actual contents of mywebsitefolder and its subdirectories? – Vocalic

yes of course. Updated my question. – Spohr

I can't see the structure from that - is myfolder inside mywebsitefolder? - and I can't see what you are trying to import. But, this is clearly a Django project; so why do you need to do this at all? Your project will already be on the path, you should be able to import anything within it already. – Vocalic

Yes my folder is inside mywebsitefolder. Actually you were right again... Doing sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('/Users/myuser/myproject/mywebsitefolder/') does work. My mistake, I tried it in my shpinx project and not in my test script and the error changed. I was too quick checking. In my test script it does work. I get other import errors in my sphinx build. – Spohr

Answer 1

Replace the code as this you dont need to add the folder to the path all you need is the path to the folder

import sys
import os

sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath('../../'))
import myfolder
print(sys.path)

Wove

thanks ArunJose_intel! I also tried this, but it gives me the same error unfortunately... – Spohr

can you try sys.path.append('/Users/myuser/myproject/mywebsitefolder/') – Wove

In the directory structure posted your myfolder is in the same level as mywebsitefolder so it should be sys.path.append('/Users/myuser/myproject/') – Wove

Thanks ArunJose_intel '/Users/myuser/myproject/mywebsitefolder/ actually worked. I mixed my test script up with my sphinx build where I was trying it. I get other import errors there but this one is solved. Thanks so much for the help – Spohr