Passing user input from one Python script to another

Question

I have written a script that imports existing data from a .csv file, modifies it, plots it, and also asks the user for an input (input2) that is used as the graph title and filename for the data set and graph. I would like to have another script (import.py) that executes the original script (new_file.py) and is able to determine what the user's input was so that I can access the newly-created files. How can I pass the user input from one script to the other?

The script that takes the user input is new_file.py:

def create_graph():
    import pandas as pd
    import numpy as np
    import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

    input1 = input("Enter the file you want to import: ")
    data_file = pd.read_excel(input1 + ".xlsx")
    ws = np.array(data_file)

    a = ws[:, 0]
    b = ws[:, 1]
    c = ws[:, 2]
    bc = b + c

    my_data1 = np.vstack((a, b, c, bc))
    my_data1 = my_data1.T

    input2 = input("Enter the name for new graph: ")
    np.savetxt(input2 + ".csv", my_data1, delimiter=',')

    plt.plot(a, b, 'ro')
    plt.plot(a, c, 'go')
    plt.plot(a, bc, 'bo')
    plt.ylabel("y-axis")
    plt.xlabel("x-axis")
    plt.legend(['Column 1 data', 'Column 2 data', 'Column 3 data'], loc='best')
    plt.title(input2)
    plt.savefig(input2)
    plt.show()

The second script (import.py) that I am trying to use to run this is currently:

import new_file as nf

nf.create_graph()

I'm not sure how to pass input2 from new_file.py to import.py. Can anyone help me please? Thank you

Have you tried running this? I'm not sure what the problem is. It should work fine since you define input2 within your function that is being called. — Reedinationer
– Reedinationer, Commented Jun 8, 2020 at 22:37
Just return the value(s) from the function. learnpython.org/en/Functions — chash
– chash, Commented Jun 8, 2020 at 22:38

theEpsilon · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-08 22:39:34Z

1

Simply return the value.

def create_graph():
    ...
    return input2

then in your other script:

import new_file as nf

input2 = nf.create_graph()

answered Jun 8, 2020 at 22:39

theEpsilon

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1 Comment

Lun_Down Over a year ago

Thank you! This worked. Very new to this. I appreciate everyone's time and responses

Scotty Jamison · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-08 22:39:41Z

1

It looks like what you're wanting to do it return information from your function.

def create_graph():
    # ... all of your code other code ...
    return input2

Then inside of your import.py you can receive your returned value like this:

import new_file as nf

input2 = nf.create_graph()
# use input2 however you want

answered Jun 8, 2020 at 22:39

Scotty Jamison

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