Question

I’d like to define the contents of a large dictionary object up between files. I’m wondering if this is possible in python.

Ideally, this is what I’d like to do:

Main File: (dict_object_main.py)

# File name: dict_object_main.py

import dict_object_sub1
import dict_object_sub2

dict_object = {}

def doSomeStuffWithTheDictObject:
    ...
    return

1st File that adds a lot of stuff to “dict_object”: (dict_object_sub1.py)

# File name: dict_object_sub1.py
from dict_object_main import dict_object

dict_object['sub1'] ={
     'property1':'value1'
    ...
    ,'property9999':'value9999'
}

2nd File that adds a lot of stuff to “dict_object”: (dict_object_sub2.py)

# File name: dict_object_sub2.py

from dict_object_main import dict_object

dict_object['sub2'] ={
     'property1':'value1'
    ...
    ,'property9999':'value9999'
}

I have something similar set up in javascript. Is it ok to do it this way in Python or should I be doing it differently?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You may want to use the update method instead.

# Same for dict_object_sub1.py or dict_object_sub2.py

from dict_object_main import dict_object
dict_object.update({
    'prop1': 'val1',
    # ...
})

Note:
I don’t think it makes much sense to split the declaration out on two different files. The final memory occupied by the dictionary will be exactly the same in both cases.

Edit:
As daveydave400 pointed out in his answer, the importing order is wrong too.

You need at least 3 distinct files (or doing the updates in the importing module):

• A dict_declare.py file, where you declare your dictionary:

  dict_object = {}
  

• A file for each partial dictionary declaration:

  from dict_object import dict_object
  
  dict_object.update({
      'prop1': 'val1',
      # ...
  })
  

• Your main file:

  from dict_declare import dict_object
  import dict_object_sub<n>
  # ... repeat
  
  def doSomeStuffWithTheDictObject:
      ...
      return