question regarding Guido's main article

[Bruno Desthuilliers]

Christopher Baus wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm new to Python and am learning the languge for writing test scripts for
> C++.
> 
> I just finished reading this:
> 
> http://www.artima.com/weblogs/viewpost.jsp?thread=4829
> 
> article.  Coming from C++ I am a bit confused about the relationship of
> the interpreter to main.  I think I understand the __name__ variable, it
> just doesn't work as expected.
> 
> I implemented a script using the form described in the article.  The then
> did: 
> 
>>python
>>
>>>>execfile("myscript.py")
> 
> 
> This immediately called my main function, which should have only been
> called if __name__ == "__main__".

But then __name__ *was* '__main__'.

> What I expect was that __name__ would be something other than __main__ and
> I would be put back at the prompt for instance...
> 
> 
>>>>execfile("myscript.py")
>>>>foobar = "foo and a bar"
>>>>main(foobar)

For this, you have to use the import statement:

 >>>import myscript
 >>>foobar = "foo and a bar"
 >>>myscript.main(foobar).

Note that 'myscript.py' must be in the sys.path for import to work 
correctly.

HTH
Bruno