Moving a file

[Memozio]

Hi there,
I'm trying to figure out how to move a file from one directory to another (all C drive). I've read that shutil is the module to go with. Ok, I think "move" command is what I'm looking for. When I'm trying to run simple tests in command line python that looks like this:

import shutil
move('C:\\....', 'C:\\....')
 

i get an error "NameError: name 'move' is not defined"
I've looked inside shutil.py module and there is a module "move". My guess is that I probably need to use the form like:

 something.move('C:\\....', 'C:\\....')

is that correct? or what's the right way to use "move" ?

Thank you

[bvdet]

Hi there,
I'm trying to figure out how to move a file from one directory to another (all C drive). I've read that shutil is the module to go with. Ok, I think "move" command is what I'm looking for. When I'm trying to run simple tests in command line python that looks like this:

import shutil
move('C:\\....', 'C:\\....')
 

i get an error "NameError: name 'move' is not defined"
I've looked inside shutil.py module and there is a module "move". My guess is that I probably need to use the form like:

 something.move('C:\\....', 'C:\\....')

is that correct? or what's the right way to use "move" ?

Thank you

The correct usage would be:

import shutil
shutil.move(src, dst)

where src is the source file or directory name and dst is the destination.

[Memozio]

The correct usage would be:

import shutil
shutil.move(src, dst)

where src is the source file or directory name and dst is the destination.

Here we go!
Thank you, bvdet
Just a follow up question: So, whenever we don't have any object for "smth" in smth.method(arg, arg) then we need to use module name for left hand side?

[bvdet]

Here we go!
Thank you, bvdet
Just a follow up question: So, whenever we don't have any object for "smth" in smth.method(arg, arg) then we need to use module name for left hand side?

You can also do this:

from shutil import move
move(src, dst)

I would tend to term move() a user-defined function which is a callable object created at the module level. Where are you getting 'smth'?

[bartonc]

Here we go!
Thank you, bvdet
Just a follow up question: So, whenever we don't have any object for "smth" in smth.method(arg, arg) then we need to use module name for left hand side?

"something.method()" syntax is used once you have created an instance of some class object. Modules may export function and/or classes and in may be a little confusing at first because object creation and function call syntax look the same. For example:

import time
timeAsFloat = time.time()  #calls a function in the time module
 
import datetime
aDateObj = datetime.date(0,0,0) # create a date object

The key is to understand the interface to the module and name your variable in order to remind yourself whether it is a simple variable type or an instance of a class. I often use the ....Obj for the latter case.

[Memozio]

"something.method()" syntax is used once you have created an instance of some class object. Modules may export function and/or classes and in may be a little confusing at first because object creation and function call syntax look the same. For example:

import time
timeAsFloat = time.time()  #calls a function in the time module
 
import datetime
aDateObj = datetime.date(0,0,0) # create a date object

The key is to understand the interface to the module and name your variable in order to remind yourself whether it is a simple variable type or an instance of a class. I often use the ....Obj for the latter case.

got ya,
thx, bartonc!