copy and rename a file

[wocosc]

Hey,
I have a problem. I was presented a problem where I need to open a file and then copy and rename it. We are still using really basic commands, but I am pretty lost with this. I know how to open a file and get python to read it. Any help would be great.

[bartonc]

Hey,
I have a problem. I was presented a problem where I need to open a file and then copy and rename it. We are still using really basic commands, but I am pretty lost with this. I know how to open a file and get python to read it. Any help would be great.

fIn = open(r"filename")  # use raw strings for windows file names
fOut = open(r"newFileName", "w")
for line in fIn:
    fOut.write(line)
fIn.close()
fOut.close()

This is for text files.

[wocosc]

fIn = open(r"filename")  # use raw strings for windows file names
fOut = open(r"newFileName", "w")
for line in fIn:
    fOut.write(line)
fIn.close()
fOut.close()

This is for text files.

Cool, thanks.. Maybe its just me, but I do understand your code, however, I can not figure out how to insert a line where the user can enter the name of the new file.. But I will work on it. I really do appreciate your help..

[wocosc]

Nevermind, I got it working, but I can't figure out how to write it as a .txt instead of a file.

************************************************** ******************

def copy():
    fIn = open(r"auston")  # use raw strings for windows file names
    name= raw_input("Enter the new file name: ")
    fOut = open(name, "w")
    for line in fIn:
        fOut.write(line)
    fIn.close()
    fOut.close()

[wocosc]

So what I need to figure now is for the program to prompt for the file
raw_input("What is the original file: ")
raw_input("What is the new name: ")

Which I know how to do, just not in this sense. But thanks for the original response so quickly, I do understand what that code does, I just dont know how to insert the about code to work. So if anyone can help with this conundrum, I would appreciate it a lot.
And this is not graded, it is just for out of class practice, but our book does not cover this.

[ghostdog74]

Hey,
I have a problem. I was presented a problem where I need to open a file and then copy and rename it. We are still using really basic commands, but I am pretty lost with this. I know how to open a file and get python to read it. Any help would be great.

what is your exact requirement? you just don't open a file and do nothing, then copy and rename it.
For purely renaming or copying files, you can use the shutil module
eg

import  shutil
shutil.move(src,dst) #move file
shutil.copy(src,dst) #copy file
 

The os.rename() method also can rename files.

[wocosc]

My exact requirement is:
Write an interactive program Copy() that makes a copy of a
file. It should prompt the user for the name of the existing file
and then name for the new file that will be created. The new
file should be an exact duplicate of the original.

[ghostdog74]

My exact requirement is:
Write an interactive program Copy() that makes a copy of a
file. It should prompt the user for the name of the existing file
and then name for the new file that will be created. The new
file should be an exact duplicate of the original.

well, if that's the exact requirement, then use shutil will do. It does the bulk of the the copy job for you.
eg

import shutil
srcfile = raw_input("What is your file name: ")
dstfile = raw_input("What do you want to rename %s to?" %srcfile)
try:
   shutil.copy(srcfile,dstfile)
except Exception,e:
   print e
 

[bartonc]

Nevermind, I got it working, but I can't figure out how to write it as a .txt instead of a file.

************************************************** ******************

def copy():
    fIn = open(r"auston")  # use raw strings for windows file names
    name= raw_input("Enter the new file name: ")
    fOut = open(name, "w")
    for line in fIn:
        fOut.write(line)
    fIn.close()
    fOut.close()

I've added code tags to your post. Please read the "POSTING GUIDELINES" on the right hand side of this page to learn how to do that. Thanks.

def copy():
    inFileName = raw_input("Enter the original file name: ") 
    print inFileName    # do this to "debug" and remove after it works
    outFileName = raw_input("Enter the new file name: ") + ".txt"
    print outFileName   # do this to "debug" and remove after it works
    fIn = open(inFileName)  # use raw strings for windows file names
    fOut = open(outFileName, "w")
    for line in fIn:
        fOut.write(line)
    fIn.close()
    fOut.close()

You won't need raw strings unil you start using a directory (folder) other than the one that you program is in.

[bartonc]

well, if that's the exact requirement, then use shutil will do. It does the bulk of the the copy job for you.
eg

import shutil
srcfile = raw_input("What is your file name: ")
dstfile = raw_input("What do you want to rename %s to?" %srcfile)
try:
   shutil.copy(srcfile,dstfile)
except Exception,e:
   print e
 

My friend ghostdog74 knows the module library better than anyone I know. Very cool, GD

[wocosc]

Hey, Thanks y'all... Y'all have been a tremendous help in such a short time..

[ghostdog74]

My friend ghostdog74 knows the module library better than anyone I know. Very cool, GD

:) well, i am a system admin by job nature, so i use this module quite a lot copying and moving files in my script. :)

[bartonc]

Hey, Thanks y'all... Y'all have been a tremendous help in such a short time..

You are welcome. That's what we're here for. Keep posting,
Barton