creating a output file when the output file exists in the path

Question

How do I code in python the option that when the output file exists in the path, the output file will automatically be "originalname"+"_1" / "originalname"+"_2" and so on ?

FredL · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-29 09:15:20Z

2

Something like

import os.path

def getnewfilename(filename):
    testfile = filename
    i = 0
    while os.path.exists(testfile):
        i += 1
        testfile = "%s_%s" % (testfile, i) 

    return testfile

This should generate

filename
filename_1
filename_2

if you use %s_%3i" you should get

filename
filename_001
filename_002
filename_003

which will then list alphabetically (but have problems when i>=1000)

answered Aug 29, 2011 at 9:15

FredL

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Björn Pollex · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-29 09:01:57Z

2

You can use os.path.exists to check if a file already exists. The rest is a simple loop that tries new filenames.

answered Aug 29, 2011 at 9:01

Björn Pollex

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Ben · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-29 09:06:46Z

0

isfile checks for the existence of a file and goes down simlinks as well; you can use the full filepath.

if os.path.isfile(filename):
    do_something()

answered Aug 29, 2011 at 9:06

Ben

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