read eval print loop - How do I load a file into the python console?

Question

I have some lines of python code that I'm continuously copying/pasting into the python console. Is there a load command or something I can run? e.g. load file.py

Answer 1

For Python 2 give execfile a try. (See other answers for Python 3)

execfile('file.py')

Example usage:
Let's use "copy con" to quickly create a small script file...

C:\junk>copy con execfile_example.py
a = [9, 42, 888]
b = len(a)
^Z
        1 file(s) copied.

...and then let's load this script like so:

C:\junk>\python27\python
Python 2.7.1 (r271:86832, Nov 27 2010, 18:30:46) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> execfile('execfile_example.py')
>>> a
[9, 42, 888]
>>> b
3
>>>

Answer 2

From the man page:

-i When a script is passed as first argument or the -c option is used, enter interactive mode after executing the script or the command. It does not read the $PYTHONSTARTUP file. This can be useful to inspect global variables or a stack trace when a script raises an exception.

So this should do what you want:

python -i file.py

Answer 3

Python 3: new exec (execfile dropped) !

The execfile solution is valid only for Python 2. Python 3 dropped the execfile function - and promoted the exec statement to a builtin universal function. As the comment in Python 3.0's changelog and Hi-Angels comment suggest:

use

exec(open(<filename.py>).read())

instead of

execfile(<filename.py>)

Answer 4

From the shell command line:

python file.py

From the Python command line

import file

or

from file import *

Answer 5

You can just use an import statement:

from file import *

So, for example, if you had a file named my_script.py you'd load it like so:

from my_script import *

Answer 6

Open command prompt in the folder in which you files to be imported are present. when you type 'python', python terminal will be opened. Now you can use

import script_name

How can I open a cmd window in a specific location?

Answer 7

If you're using IPython, you can simply run:

%load path/to/your/file.py

See http://ipython.org/ipython-doc/rel-1.1.0/interactive/tutorial.html

Answer 8

If your path environment variable contains Python (eg. C:\Python27\) you can run your py file simply from Windows command line (cmd). Howto here.