Python: rename files based on a Python list

Question

I have a directory that contains a thousand or so txt files. I've read and explored these files with glob (searching for specific strings within the file) and I've appended the filenames of the files of interest to a list in Python, like so:

list_of_chosen_files = ['file2.txt', 'file10.txt', 'file17.txt', ...]

I'll be using this list for other things as well, but now I'm trying to figure out how to use the OS module to cross-reference the filenames in the directory against the list above and, if the filename is in that list, to add "1-" to the beginning of the filename. I've saved "1-" in a variable for reuse as well. Here's what I have so far: -

var = "1-"

import os
for filename in os.listdir("."):
    if filename == list_of_chosen_files[:]:
        os.rename(filename, var+filename)
        print filename

It's running without any errors in anaconda, but nothing's printing and none of the files are getting renamed. I feel like it should be such an easy fix, but I'm concerned about poking around directories with the OS module if I don't really know what I'm doing yet.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Matt Habel · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-13 15:54:34Z

3

Your issue is this line:

if filename == list_of_chosen_files[:]:

You're comparing a single string (filename) to an entire list (list_of_chosen_files[:] just gives you back the whole list). If you want to check if the filename is in the list, use this:

if filename in list_of_chosen_files:

This will check to see if list_of_chosen_files contains filename.

answered Jul 13, 2015 at 15:54

Matt Habel

1,5432 gold badges15 silver badges35 bronze badges

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

1 Comment

user3817675 Over a year ago

Thank you very much! Worked perfectly. Such a "duh" moment. Thanks again!

Ankur Anand · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-13 15:55:25Z

1

Error : if filename == list_of_chosen_files[:]:

os.listdir(".")is only giving you back the basename results. Not full path. They don't exist in your current working directory. You would need to join them back with the root:

root = 'full Path of your directory'
for item in os.listdir(root):
    fullpath = os.path.join(root, item)
    os.rename(fullpath, fullpath.replace('filename', 'var+filename'))

edited Jul 13, 2015 at 15:55

answered Jul 13, 2015 at 15:49

Ankur Anand

3,9142 gold badges27 silver badges45 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Python: rename files based on a Python list

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related