Global variables and modules

[dkeeney at travelbyroad.net]

I have a newby type question on how global variables work between
modules.

I have a module test2.py that defines a global variable as well as two
functions to operate on that variable.  A script test1.py imports the
three names and prints out values of the global between operations, and
the results aren't what I expected.

Here is the module, test2.py
------------------------------------
glbl = 25

def inc_glbl():
global glbl
glbl += 1

def get_glbl():
global glbl
return glbl
------------------------------------

and here is the test script, test1.py
-------------------------------------

from test2 import glbl, inc_glbl, get_glbl

print 'glbl orig      ', glbl

inc_glbl()
print 'glbl postinc   ', glbl

new = get_glbl()
print 'glbl from func ', new
--------------------------------------
I would expect the three values to be ( 25, 26, 26 ), but what I get is
c:\projects\pitcher_model>test1.py
glbl orig       25
glbl postinc    25
glbl from func  26

---------
It seems that the references to 'glbl' are seeing a local copy, rather
than the original.  This is not what the literature says should be
happening.  I am looking for a way to share data between modules.  Can
you advise me on my error?  I am using Python 2.3.2 from ActiveState,
on Windows XP Pro.

Thank you
David