CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonwindowspython-2.7
user2536262
user2536262

Reputation: 279

Moving files with python (Windows)

I am trying to write a python script that moves a file from one directory to another. I've tried two different solutions, both ending in errors.

Number one:

import os

os.rename('C:\users\python\nonpython\adam.spc','C:\users\python\target\adam.spc')

Gives error

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Users/Python/movefile.py", line 4, in <module>
    os.rename('C:\users\python\nonpython\adam.spc','C:\users\python\target\adam.spc')
WindowsError: [Error 123] Felaktig syntax för filnamn, katalognamn eller volymetikett

("Bad syntax for file name, directory name or volume label")

Number two:

import shutil

def move(src, dest):
    shutil.move(src, dest)

src='C:\users\python\nonpython\Adam.spc'
dest='C:\users\python\target\Adam.spc'

move(src,dest)

Gives error

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:/Users/Python/movefile2.py", line 9, in <module>
    move(src,dest)
  File "C:/Users/Python/movefile2.py", line 4, in move
    shutil.move(src, dest)
  File "C:\Python27\lib\shutil.py", line 301, in move
    copy2(src, real_dst)
  File "C:\Python27\lib\shutil.py", line 130, in copy2
    copyfile(src, dst)
  File "C:\Python27\lib\shutil.py", line 82, in copyfile
    with open(src, 'rb') as fsrc:
IOError: [Errno 22] invalid mode ('rb') or filename: 'C:\\users\\python\nonpython\\Adam.spc'

What should I do to make this work?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 13331

Answers (5)

RenzeH
RenzeH

Reputation: 71

You can not move a file to another directory using rename, you can rename a file using move though. Move can replace an existing file (use /y), rename can't.

You can both use slash or backslash, backslash needs to be escaped by using 2 backslashes where you need 1 and 4 backslashes where you need 2.

Your function move needs a return.

Upvotes: 0

anon582847382
anon582847382

Reputation: 20351

3 options to fix this:

  • Use forward slashes:

'path/to/your/stuff'

  • Or raw strings:

r'path\to\your\stuff'

  • Or at least escape your backslashes:

'path\\to\\your\\stuff'

This needs doing because \ is a special character in strings, for indicating special characters like \n. Therefore that will end badly when you want to work dynamically with paths.

Upvotes: 3

gnp210
gnp210

Reputation: 153

Try replacing your backslashes with forward slashes in the Path:

os.rename('C:/users/python/nonpython/adam.spc','C:/users/python/target/adam.spc')

Upvotes: 0

Scorpion_God
Scorpion_God

Reputation: 1499

Your directory names should have slashes instead of backslashes.

import os

src = 'C:/users/python/nonpython/Adam.spc'
dest = 'C:/users/python/target/Adam.spc'

os.rename(src, dest)

Upvotes: 0

WeaselFox
WeaselFox

Reputation: 7380

try using slashes instead of backslashes - replace \ with /. or use r'C:\users\python\nonpython\adam.spc'

Upvotes: 0

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