Importing a module

[snippsat]

I use IDLE Python 3.5.2 running on Windows 7.

Can give demo,can use IDLE but not a fan it at all  

In IDLE file --> New file paste in code under,save it as chaos.py(in Python 3.5 folder).

# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior.
def main():
    print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
    inp = float(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
    for i in range(10):
        inp = 3.9 * inp * (1 -inp)
        print(inp)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    # Will now run as a script
    # But will not run when you import it(have to call main())
    main()

Close all(IDLE) then open:
File --> open chaos.py.
Run --> Run Module(F5)

Output:
Python 3.4.2 (v3.4.2:ab2c023a9432, Oct  6 2014, 22:15:05) [MSC v.1600 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
Type "copyright", "credits" or "license()" for more information.
>>> ================================ RESTART ================================
>>> 
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.09506250000000008
0.33549992226562525
0.8694649252590003
0.44263310911310905
0.962165255336889
0.1419727793616139
0.4750843861996143
0.9725789275369049
0.1040097132674683

>>> #Now will import it an run the same
>>> import chaos
>>> main()
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.09506250000000008
0.33549992226562525
0.8694649252590003
0.44263310911310905
0.962165255336889
0.1419727793616139
0.4750843861996143
0.9725789275369049
0.1040097132674683
>>> 

If your using a tutorial that puts in eval() in from direct input of a user, and does not inform you of the security risks...get a new tutorial.

It's now an old book 2003 i think,and yes he use eval() in a lot places(not just in input) as he should not have done.
Had to check,has a copy of the book as pdf

[Barrowman]

SrirachaSauceLover
All you do is delete the spaces in front of the text. In your code you had
main()
which has 8 spaces in front of it. Just delete them

[SrirachaSauceLover]

SrirachaSauceLover
All you do is delete the spaces in front of the text. In your code you had
       main()
which has 8 spaces in front of it. Just delete them

I do this and am greeted with:

SyntaxError: unindent does not match any outer indentation level

[snippsat]

All you do is delete the spaces in front of the text. In your code you had
main()
which has 8 spaces in front of it. Just delete them

Can also delete main() all together,dos not need that call when import it.

# File: chaos.py
# A simple program illustrating chaotic behavior.
def main():
   print("This program illustrates a chaotic function")
   inp = float(input("Enter a number between 0 and 1: "))
   for i in range(10):
       inp = 3.9 * inp * (1 -inp)
       print(inp)

Test import:

Output:
>>> import chaos
>>> chaos.main()
This program illustrates a chaotic function
Enter a number between 0 and 1: .5
0.975
0.09506250000000008
0.33549992226562525
0.8694649252590003
0.44263310911310905
0.962165255336889
0.1419727793616139
0.4750843861996143
0.9725789275369049
0.1040097132674683

Look a little at at if __name__ == '__main__': and what it does.

[Larz60+]

__name__ is the name of the scope in which top-level code executes.
a modules name is '__main__' when called from standard input, so
when checking for comparison of the two, is __name__ == '__main__'
will execute ifthe module is run like:

if __name__ == '__main__':
    do this

but not when imported as in:

import modulename

great for development

[SrirachaSauceLover]

I removed the second "main()" from my code and still receive the message:

import chaos
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<pyshell#0>", line 1, in <module>
    import chaos
  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python35-32\chaos.py", line 1
    Python 3.5.2 (v3.5.2:4def2a2901a5, Jun 25 2016, 22:01:18) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

[metulburr]

constantly giving us the traceback isnt giving us any more information to work with.

Have you tried snippsats code executing it exactly as he has done it, and how he executed it
http://python-forum.io/Thread-Importing-...94#pid4194

[Barrowman]

SrirachaSauceLover
All you do is delete the spaces in front of the text. In your code you had
       main()
which has 8 spaces in front of it. Just delete them

I do this and am greeted with:

SyntaxError: unindent does not match any outer indentation level

Okay so it seems you have some problem with making sure that everything is aligned as it should be so let's see if you can get it right.
>>>> Looking at the version I posted <<<< Just to remove any confusion.
When you create the function with def main():
it should start on a line with no spaces to the left of it.
The next line 
inp = raw_input("Enter a value between 0 and 1: ")
should have 4 spaces to the left of it.
After that x = float(inp)
and  
for i in range(10):
should each have 4 spaces in front of them.
Then 
x = 3.9 * x * (1 - x)
and
print x
should have 8 spaces in front of them
Finally 
main()
should have no spaces in front of it.
If you get all that right you will not get the error.

The interpreter needs this consistent format so it knows where the def ends and where the for loop ends.
Note that if the def is itself within another def such as 
class example(): 
 the def needs to have 4 spaces to the left of it and all the other bits need an extra 4 spaces to the left of them.
I have said 4 spaces and then 8 spaces because that is the standard way and a good habit to get into. You could use 3 and 15 or 7 and 11  and so on but whatever you use it has to be consistent or you will get the unindent error.
Often copy and paste can cause this error.

[nilamo]

import chaos
Traceback (most recent call last):
    Python 3.5.2 (v3.5.2:4def2a2901a5, Jun 25 2016, 22:01:18) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32
             ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

...is the first line of chaos.py "Python 3.52 (v3.5.2:4def2a2901a5, Jun 25 2016, 22:01:18) [MSC v.1900 32 bit (Intel)] on win32"?
I find it very, very strange that the syntax error is pointing to something that shouldn't be anywhere in the file.

[SrirachaSauceLover]

I found the mistake: I made the module in the shell. I remade the module in a text editor and then again in the IDLE editor. Everything works now.