Import data from files in same project in PyCharm?

Question

This is a simple problem but I am struggling to solve it. I have a project open in PyCharm Community Edition 2021.1.1. I have a .npy file with data, and it's located at src -> folder_name -> numpy_file.npy. Then, I have a Python file under another directory in the same project, located at src -> folder_two -> python_code.py. In my Python file, I attempt to load the numpy file data using:

np.load('folder_name/numpy_file.npy')

but it tells me there is no such file or directory.

I have marked 'src' as my Sources Root. What else am I missing? Thank you.

Answer 1

Easiest is to check your current path with import os and print(os.getcwd()) and navigate from there - you might be in a different folder than you think. As far as i know defining a sources folder does not mean that this is your current working directory. You define such things in the run-configuration at Working directory. Also, with os you can change directories if that is what you want, e.g. os.chdir("..") to go up one folder etc.

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Edit

To further elaborate the problem - i tried reproducing your situation:

1. Created a new pyCharm project in a folder called src (pure python, no venv, no welcome scripts)
2. I created the subfolders folder_one and folder_two
3. Inside folder_one i created a text-file with a sample-text called my_file.txt
4. Inside folder_two i created a python file called sub_module.py equivalent to your file.
5. I defined src as the sources root (which is not necessary i think): In PyCharm project tree > rightclick src folder > mark directory as > sources root
6. I created a run configuration:
   • Script path: path to your sub_module.py
   • Working directory: path to your src folder
   • The rest can be empty

Then finally, this is the content of my sub_module.py file:

print("Im in folder: " + os.getcwd())

# Here i define which file i want to access - taking for granted we are in the src folder already
other_file = "folder_one" + os.sep + "my_file.txt"

# Here i check if the file really exists
if os.path.isfile(other_file):
    
    # Here i do some operations with the file and demonstrate os.path.abspath, which is not even needed
    print("I can access file " + os.path.abspath(other_file))
    with open(other_file) as f:
        print(f.read())

This returns me the content of my_file.txt. I also uploaded the zipped PyCharm project here (where i do not know if it is fully legal). Hope this helps to relate.

Answer 2

It all depends on the current directory where your Python program is executed. If it starts from folder_two, then you should open the file by going "up" one level: '../folder_name/numpy_file.npy'