example of how import works

gistfile1.txt

$ cd ~/scripts/tmp
$ touch m1.py
$ pico m1.py
$ cat m1.py
print 'Imported module m1'

def m1foo():
	print 'executed m1 foo'
$ python
Python 2.7.3 (default, Apr 20 2012, 22:44:07) 
[GCC 4.6.3] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> import m1
Imported module m1
>>> m1.m1foo()
executed m1 foo
>>>