newbie question

[Michael Tobis]

I think the answers so far are unnecessarily confusing and off the
mark.

Here is what I think you think you want to know:

1) import only works once. If you try import again, it will see the
module already exists, and will ignore you

2) the functionality you think you want is reload.
>>> reload mymodule
will essentially reimport mymodule after the first time.

However, what you think you want is not what you want, which is why the
experienced people are giving misleading and overcomplicated answers.
Normally reload is a fairly advanced feature and beginners don't need
it.

Usually, an import statement invokes a module containing a bunch of
definitions (usually functions or classes, but sometimes even
constants), but it doesn't DO anything unless it is invoked as the main
program.

So after you satisfy yourself that "reload" does what you want, try to
think about how you would work things so you don't need it.

For instance, instead of something like

#mystuff.py

print "hello ",
print "world"

# end of file



>>> import mystuff
hello world
>>> import mystuff

>>>

is



### newstuff.py

def newstuff():
   print "hello",
   print " world"

# end of file



>>> from newstuff import newstuff
>>> newstuff()
hello, world
>>> newstuff()
hello, world


hth
mt