CODEWITHSUNDEEP
pythonpython-2.7
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Reputation: 153

In Python 2.7, How to use scp with variable filename?

I have following codeline written in python 2.7. I am using centos6 as OS. Right now I am new to python & trying to learn it.

Following code line copies all specific files (i.e. containing letter "R") in the folder /2013_06_02 from remote machine 192.168.13.152 to my local machine (tony is my username on my local machine; while john is my username on remote machine)

os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/2013_06_02/11_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/")

This works. (This code line asks password). And I get specific files in my /data directory on my local machine.

Now the problem part: Actually I have many folders on remote machine, each one contains many files with filenames which contain letter "R". Also Each filename begins with some no. like 11 in above example. Now I want to vary folder name and at the same time vary no. appearing in front of filename.

I tried this:

date = "2013_10_05"
mynum = "11"
os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/date/mynum_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/")

But I got this error:

SyntaxError: EOL while scanning string literal

I tried this way also:

date = "2013_10_05"
mynum = "11"
os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/"date"/"mynum"_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/")

But this did not work.

In short I have to make folder name & file no. to be two variables to be used in scp command so that code will automate copying process; i.e. I don't have to change folder name & no. in filename by hand everytime.

I know that every time I have to type password to remote machine, if above code line works. But I don't care for that at this moment. First I want to get above codeline into working condition. Then I want to see how I can do above stuff without typing password everytime.

Any help will be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 1377

Answers (3)

Padraic Cunningham
Padraic Cunningham

Reputation: 180482

Use str.format to pass in variables:

date = "2013_10_05"
mynum = "11"
os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/{}/{}_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/".format(date,mynum))

Using:

os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/"date"/"mynum"_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/") you have double quotes inside double quotes which is neither valid syntax in python or passing in the variables.

Upvotes: 2

kvivek
kvivek

Reputation: 3491

One more way to run is:

date = "2013_10_05"
mynum = "11"
os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/%s/%s_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/" %(date, mynum))

Upvotes: 0

mhawke
mhawke

Reputation: 87134

Use string formatting.

date = "2013_10_05"
mynum = "11"
os.system("scp [email protected]:/home/john/{}/{}_RBPLJ1635+3808*R* /home/tony/data/".format(date, mynum))

I recommend that you take a look at fabric. It's great for this sort of thing.

Upvotes: 1

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