function to do dynamic import?

[J. Cliff Dyer]

bambam wrote:
> import works in the main section of the module, but does
> not work as I hoped when run inside a function.
>
> That is, the modules import correctly, but are not visible to
> the enclosing (global) scope.
>
> Questions:
> (1) Where can I read an explanation of this?
> (2) Is there a work around?
>
> BTW, sys.modules("filename") shows that the module is
> loaded, I just don't know how to use it when loaded that
> way.  Also, if I import again at the global scope, the module
> name becomes available.
>
> Steve.
>
> ---
>   
>>>> def gim():
>>>>         
> ... exec "import gamel"
> ...
>   
All you have done in this function is bind the module to the name gamel
within the scope of the function.  As soon as the function exits, the
module goes out of scope.  If you want to use it externally, return the
module.

def: gim():
    import gamel
    return gamel
>>>> gim()
>>>>         
This will have to change to

gamel = gim()

and the rest should work as expected.
>>>> sys.modules["gamel"]
>>>>         
> <module 'gamel' from 'c:\gamel.pyc'>
>   
>>>> gamel
>>>>         
> NameError: name 'gamel' is not defined
>   
>>>> exec "import gamel"
>>>> gamel
>>>>         
> <module 'gamel' from 'c:\gamel.pyc'> 
>
>
>