1 files changed, 26 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/django/utils/module_loading.py b/django/utils/module_loading.py
index f8aadb34df..01996743cd 100644
--- a/django/utils/module_loading.py
+++ b/django/utils/module_loading.py
@@ -2,6 +2,32 @@ import imp
 import os
 import sys
 
+from django.core.exceptions import ImproperlyConfigured
+from django.utils.importlib import import_module
+
+
+def import_by_path(dotted_path, error_prefix=''):
+    """
+    Import a dotted module path and return the attribute/class designated by the
+    last name in the path. Raise ImproperlyConfigured if something goes wrong.
+    """
+    try:
+        module_path, class_name = dotted_path.rsplit('.', 1)
+    except ValueError:
+        raise ImproperlyConfigured("%s%s doesn't look like a module path" % (
+            error_prefix, dotted_path))
+    try:
+        module = import_module(module_path)
+    except ImportError as e:
+        raise ImproperlyConfigured('%sError importing module %s: "%s"' % (
+            error_prefix, module_path, e))
+    try:
+        attr = getattr(module, class_name)
+    except AttributeError:
+        raise ImproperlyConfigured('%sModule "%s" does not define a "%s" attribute/class' % (
+            error_prefix, module_path, class_name))
+    return attr
+
 
 def module_has_submodule(package, module_name):
     """See if 'module' is in 'package'."""