How to Copy Files Using Python with Names from a Text File

Learn how to efficiently copy files in Python by reading their names from a text file, while avoiding common errors.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/64953761/ asked by the user 'Abhishek Choudhary' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14548118/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/64953803/ provided by the user 'BenB' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14674746/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Copy Files Using Python with Names from a Text File

If you're working with file management in Python, you may find yourself needing to copy files based on a list of names stored in a text file. However, it's not uncommon to run into errors, particularly related to file paths. In this guide, we will discuss a common problem one might face when trying to copy files using Python and how to resolve it effectively.

The Problem

A user reported an issue while attempting to copy files from one folder to another by reading the file names from a text file named input.txt. They encountered an error that stemmed from the way the file names were being handled in their code. Here’s the core of the problem: when reading the file names from the text file, the trailing newline character (\n) was included, which resulted in an invalid file path during the copy operation.

Code That Triggered the Error

Here’s the original code that the user provided:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

When executed, this code raised the following error:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

As indicated, the path included a newline character, leading to a failure in the copy operation.

The Solution

To address this issue, we need to ensure that we clear the trailing newline character from the file names before using them to build the source paths. This can be achieved by using the rstrip() method, which removes any trailing whitespace, including newlines.

Modified Code

Here’s the revised code that effectively removes the newline character and successfully copies the files:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Explanation of the Changes

Using rstrip(): This method is called on file_name to strip any trailing characters, including the newline character. This ensures that when we pass file_name to os.path.join(), it does not include unwanted characters that can lead to errors.

Additional Tips

Open Files Safely: Instead of using open() directly, consider using a with statement, which automatically handles file closing for you:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Error Handling: You may want to implement error handling (try-except blocks) around your file operations to better manage any unforeseen issues during execution.

Conclusion

Copying files based on names from a text file is a common task in Python scripting. By carefully handling strings and understanding how to manipulate file paths, you can accomplish this seamlessly. Remember to always check for trailing characters that may disrupt your file operations! By employing the provided solution, you can avoid the common pitfalls and run your file copying tasks smoothly.

Feel free to share your experiences or ask questions about working with files in Python in the comments below! Happy coding!