PythonPath overriding use of Python*Handler directory.
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Key: MODPYTHON-154
URL: http://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/MODPYTHON-154
Project: mod_python
Type: Sub-task

Components: importer
Reporter: Graham Dumpleton
Assigned to: Graham Dumpleton


The behaviour of the old importer is such that if the PythonPath directive h
as been used in the same or parent configuration context, then any physical 
directory corresponding to where the Python*Handler directive was used, is n
ot added to sys.path.

The new importer currently preserves the above behaviour, but since the new 
importer does not actually add the directory associated with the Python*Hand
ler directive into sys.path, it doesn't seem to make any sense that setting 
PythonPath should cause the
directory the Python*Handler directive is associated with to be ignored.

Thus propose that PythonPath should be kept quite distinct from directories 
in document tree for which Python*Handler is specified for and setting Pytho
nPath will would no longer cause directory Python*Handler directive is speci
fied for to be ignored.

Overall, this should actually eliminate unexpected behaviour whereby user se
ts PythonPath and then finds their modules in document tree can't be found. 
The only solution to this with the old importer is to add the directories in
 the document tree explicit
ly to PythonPath directive.

If there is some valid reason that the new importer should never look in the
 document tree for modules, then it would be better handled by some sort of 
PythonOption rather than it be a side effect of having used the PythonPath d
irective.

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