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jshapy8
jshapy8

Reputation: 2051

Python: How to write to a file while it is open in the OS

I am writing a utility in Python that may require a user to open a file while the Python program is writing to it.

The file is open as so in the Python program: CSV = open(test.csv, "a")

When the Python program is running and the user double clicks test.csv in the OS, the Python program halts with the following error:

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: 'test.csv'

I understand why this happens. I am wondering if there is something I can do so that the Python program can still write to the file while the file (a read-only copy perhaps) is open. I've noticed in the past that Perl programs, for example, still write to a file while it is open, so I know that this is programmatically possible. Can this be done in Python?

Upvotes: 3

Views: 1535

Answers (1)

jshapy8
jshapy8

Reputation: 2051

The best solution I've found is to make a copy of the file and then open it if you wish to view the contents of the file while it is being written to. It is easy to make a copy of a file programmatically if you wish to automate the process.

If one wishes to implement a feature where the user can see the file as it is updated in real time, it is best to use communicate the data to a receive through a separate method, possibly by sockets or simply to stdout.

Upvotes: 1

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