CODEWITHSUNDEEP
python
user2809537
user2809537

Reputation: 13

How can I search in a subdir for a specific file?

Let's say the start.py is located in C:\.

import os
path = "C:\\Users\\Downloads\\00005.tex"
file = open(path,"a+")
file. truncate(0)
file.write("""Hello
        """)
file.close()
os.startfile("C:\\Users\\Downloads\\00005.tex")

In the subdirectory could be some files. For example: 00001.tex, 00002.tex, 00003.tex, 00004.tex. I want first to search in the subdir for the file with the highest number (00004.tex) and create a new one with the next number (00005.tex), write "Hello" and save it in the subdir 00005.tex.
Are the zeros necessary or can i also just name them 1.tex, 2.tex, 3.tex......?

Upvotes: 0

Views: 59

Answers (2)

Nles
Nles

Reputation: 161

You can use glob:

import glob, os
os.chdir(r"Path")

files = glob.glob("*.tex")
entries = sorted([int(entry.split(".", 1)[0]) for entry in files])
next_entry = entries[-1]+1

next_entry can be used as a new filename. You can then create a new file with this name and write your new content to that file

Upvotes: 0

tdelaney
tdelaney

Reputation: 77407

Textually, "2" is greater than "100" but of course numerically, its the opposite. The reason for writing files as say, "00002.txt" and "00100.text" is that for files numbered up to 99999, the lexical sorting is the same as the numerical sorting. If you write them as "2.txt" and "100.txt" then you need to change the non-extension part of the name to an integer before sorting.

In your case, since you want the next highest number, you need to convert the filenames to integers so that you can get a maximum and add 1. Since you are converting to an integer anyway, your progam doesn't care whether you prepend zeroes or not.

So the choice is based on external reasons. Is there some reason to make it so that a textual sort works? If not, then the choice is purely random and do whatever you think looks better.

Upvotes: 1

Related Questions