Using a settings file other than settings.py in Django

Question

I want to use a different settings file in django -- specifically settings_prod -- yet whenever I try to do a syncdb with --settings=settings_prod, it complains:

python2.6 manage.py syncdb  --settings=settings_prod
Error: Can't find the file 'settings.py' in the directory containing 'manage.py'. It appears you've customized things.
You'll have to run django-admin.py, passing it your settings module.
(If the file settings.py does indeed exist, it's causing an ImportError somehow.)

I've also tried setting the environment variable DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=settings_prod to no end.

Edit: I have also set the environment variable in my wsgi file, also to no end:

import os
import sys

from django.core.handlers.wsgi import WSGIHandler

os.environ['DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE'] = 'project.settings_prod'
application = WSGIHandler()

Suggestions?

Solution 1

I do know that no matter what you do with manage.py, you're going to get that error because manage.py does a relative import of settings:

try:
    import settings # Assumed to be in the same directory.

http://docs.djangoproject.com/en/dev/ref/django-admin/#django-admin-option---settings

Note that this option is unnecessary in manage.py, because it uses settings.py from the current project by default.

You should try django-admin.py syncdb --settings=mysettings instead

Solution 2

Try creating a settings module.

1. Make a settings folder in the same directory as manage.py.
2. Put your different settings files in that folder (e.g. base.py and prod.py).

3. Make __init__.py and import whatever settings you want to use as your default. For example, your __init__.py file might look like this:

   from base import *
   

4. Run your project and override the settings:

   $ python2.6 manage.py syncdb --settings=settings.prod
   

Solution 3

this will help you:

• create a another file "setting_prod.py" with your original settings.py file.

• write down your setting which you need to run, in setting_prod.py file.

• Then import setting_prod.py file in your settings.py file.

for ex. settings.py:

VARIABLE = 1

import setting_prod

setting_prod.py

VARIABLE = 2

After importing setting_prod.py file in settings.py file, VARIABLE will set to new value to "2" from "1".

Solution 4

this works for me:

DJANGO_SETTINGS_MODULE=config.settings.abc python manage.py migrate

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Comments

[pajton]

And with the WSGI is it working correctly? I had this problem before, but only with manage.py

[pajton]

Ok, someone just answered what I had in mind:). import settings is hardcoded in manage.py so no luck with this simple approach.

[Brian D]

I have tried that, but I get: ImportError: Could not import settings 'settings_prod' (Is it on sys.path?): No module named settings_prod -- but it should be, according to my WSGI file

[Brian D]

Well, actually I just modified the WSGI file to include this: sys.path.append("/home/username/webapps/django/project"), but still no bueno.

[Wogan]

try passing the --pythonpath argument to django-admin.py to ensure that your path is set up correctly.

[Yuji 'Tomita' Tomita]

Regardless of what your WSGI config file says, if you're running django-admin.py your settings file has to be on the pythonpath now, not when your WSGI handler is called by Apache. You could for example edit your manage.py file and do the appropriate sys.path modifications and change the hard coded import settings to import mysettings as settings

[holms]

why you have .py in the end? I've got error ImportError: No module named py and VARIABLE string won't be replaced as you want. If you'll have import setting_prod it will be as setting_prod.VARIABLE

[IamnotBatman]

If you set from setting_prod import * You will get the behavior you are looking for but, it is less pythonic.