[Tutor] Python conundrum

[Lisi]

Hi! :-)

From the book I am working from:

<quote> A shortcut is to do your import like this: 
from ex25 import  * </quote>

Is this a new and wonderful meaning of the word "shortcut"?  _Why_, _how_ is 
that a shortcut for:

import ex25

when it has seven *more* characters (counting the spaces)?  Or, put another 
way, twice as many words? :-/

It is obviously an alternative, but I just don't get that it is a shortcut.

Thanks,
Lisi