Python class instantiation using name

[Chad Netzer]

On Tuesday 17 December 2002 14:16, holger krekel wrote:
> Amol P Dharmadhikari wrote:

> > So in general, if I have a string which contains the name of a
> > class, how do I create an instance of that class?
>
>     cls = eval(classname)
>
> if the class is defined in the current module.  or
>
>     cls = eval(classname, othermodule.__dict__)
>
> if the class lives in another module.

That code will bind to the class objects, but won't create 
instances of the classes.

I would amend the above code to be:

    instance = eval( classname + "()" )

or if it is in a module called "othermodule":

    instance = eval( "othermodule." + classname + "()" )

You could also use string substitution:

    instance = eval( "othermodule.%s()" % classname )

-- 
Bay Area Python Interest Group - http://www.baypiggies.net/

Chad Netzer
cnetzer at mail.arc.nasa.gov