Python not finding file in the same directory

Question

I am writing a simple script that attaches file to a mail, but it is not finding the file. This is my one block:

    # KML attachment
    filename='20140210204804.kml'
    fp = open(filename, "rb")
    att = email.mime.application.MIMEApplication(fp.read(),_subtype="kml")
    fp.close()
    att.add_header('Content-Disposition','attachment',filename=filename)
    msg.attach(att)

The file 20140210204804.kml is present in the same folder as the script. I am getting below error:

 IOError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '20140210204804.kml'

Any help is appreciated.

How are you running the script? The current directory isn't necessarily the same as the script's location. — Tim Pietzcker
– Tim Pietzcker, Commented Feb 22, 2014 at 16:40

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-22 16:42:17Z

27

The working directory is not set to the directory of the script, but to the current directory where you started the script.

Use __file__ to determine the file location and use that as a starting point to make filename an absolute path:

import os

here = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))

filename = os.path.join(here, '20140210204804.kml')

answered Feb 22, 2014 at 16:42

Martijn Pieters

1.1m326 gold badges4.2k silver badges3.4k bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Abhishek dot py Over a year ago

Excellent !! I didn't think this way. I can understand what "_file_" did, but is there any link that can explain why/how it did?

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@Abhishekdotpy: most of the 'trick' here is using the os.path module; look for abspath and dirname there. __file__ is just the filename of the current module, which can be relative to the working directory.

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@Abhishekdotpy: __file__ is documented both in the import statement documentation and the Python datamodel document.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Python not finding file in the same directory

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related