title: Python module win32com on Linux
body: <p>I am writing some Python code that runs under multiple platforms. Unfortunately under Win32, I have to support some COM functionalities. </p>
  
  <p>However these lines will fail under an Linux environment:</p>
  
  <pre><code>from pythoncom import PumpWaitingMessages
  from pythoncom import Empty
  from pythoncom import Missing
  from pythoncom import com_error
  import win32api
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And all the other functions which are using the Win32 COM API will fail as well. What is the standard method to make sure that some code is not loaded/imported depending on the platform and give an error message/exception in the case they are called by the client of the interface ?</p>