Variables not recognized after importing function from second script (Python)

Question

I am calling a function from a second script but the variable from the first script is not recognized.

script1

selection = int(raw_input("Enter Selection: "))
if selection == 1:
    import script2
    script2.dosomething()

script2

def dosomething():
    while selection == 1:
    ......
    ......

It displays "NameError: global name 'selection' is not defined"

Is it something to do with global variables?

You didn't define selection. It is not a parameter in your function — whackamadoodle3000
– whackamadoodle3000, Commented Feb 16, 2018 at 4:34
Possible duplicate of Global Variable from a different file Python — Spencer Wieczorek
– Spencer Wieczorek, Commented Feb 16, 2018 at 4:41
selection was defined in script2's scope, so it gives you a NameError. There are a couple ways to get selection into script2's scope: pass it in as a variable, define script1 and script2 in the same file with script1 in the same or higher scope, or define selection as global. See stackoverflow.com/questions/291978/… — IceArdor
– IceArdor, Commented Feb 16, 2018 at 4:42

Jorden · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-16 04:35:26Z

5

That variable only "lives" within your first script. If you would like to use it in your other script, you could make it an argument to that function and do something like:

if selection == 1:
    import script2
    script2.dosomething(selection)

and in script2.py you would have:

def dosomething(selection):
    while selection == 1:
        ...

answered Feb 16, 2018 at 4:35

Jorden

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4 Comments

Spencer Wieczorek Over a year ago

Passing as an argument seems unnecessary, imo there are betters ways of handling this.

juanpa.arrivillaga Over a year ago

@SpencerWieczorek what is wrong with passing an argument? What alternative would you suggest in this case?

Spencer Wieczorek Over a year ago

@juanpa.arrivillaga See the linked duplicate. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with argument passing necessarily. But it seems that OP would prefer it to be a globally available in both files.

juanpa.arrivillaga Over a year ago

@SpencerWieczorek what specifically? Passing an argument is the right way to do it, not relying on mutable global state/cyclic imports

iamsankalp89 · Accepted Answer · 2018-02-16 04:43:42Z

0

I think you have to define that variable in other program, error itself says

"NameError: global name 'selection' is not defined"

Simply defined it

mySelection = selection
def dosomething(mySelection):
    while mySelection == 1:
       -------------

answered Feb 16, 2018 at 4:43

iamsankalp89

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