I have a few questions about including data files when running

python setup.py test

with Distribute while using Python 3 and the "use_2to3" keyword argument.

Some of my test files are in a subdirectory of my project outside of the package directory. I'm able to have the test files copied over to the build directory when running "test" by including a package_data argument something like the following:

package_data = {'package': ['../path/to/test/data/*.json']}

My questions are--

(1) Is it acceptable to be using parent directories to reference files outside the package directory, or is there a better way to reference paths relative to the project root? Perhaps data_files?

(2) Is there an easy way to make it so that these data files get copied only when the test command is being run? The files aren't needed when not developing.

(3) Are there any best practices around including/installing test files in distributions (or should they be left out)?

Thanks, --Chris