[Python] Importing module from string variable using "__import__" gives different results than...

I'm working on a documentation (personal) for nested matplotlib (MPL) library, which differs from MPL own provided, by interested submodule packages. I'm writing Python script which I hope will automate document generation from future MPL releases.

I selected interested submodules/packages and want to list their main classes from which I'll generate list and process it with pydoc.

The problem is that I can't find a way to instruct Python to load a submodule from a string. Here is an example of what I tried:

import matplotlib.text as text
x = dir(text)


i = __import__('matplotlib.text')
y = dir(i)


j = __import__('matplotlib')
z = dir(j)


And here is a 3-way comparison of above lists through pprint:



I don't understand what's loaded in y object - it's base matplotlib plus something else, but it lacks information that I wanted and that is main classes from matplotlib.text package. It's the top blue coloured part on screenshot (x list).

Continue reading...