How to Rename Files While Copying with shutil in Python

Discover how to easily change file names during copy operations using Python's `shutil` module and `pathlib`. Follow our step-by-step guide to make your file management effortless!
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How to Rename Files While Copying with shutil in Python

As a Python developer, you might often find yourself needing to copy files from one directory to another. However, what if you want to change the filenames while you're at it? This need arises frequently, especially when organizing files or preparing them for uploads. In this guide, we'll explore how to change the file names during the copying process using the shutil module along with the pathlib library.

The Problem

Let's say you have several images located in a directory called src, and you want to copy specific files like blue.png and green.png to a new directory named dst. The challenge is that you'd like the copied files to have a specific naming format, for example:

blue.png should become blue_1001.png

green.png should become green_1002.png

This requirement can be accomplished with a few simple steps in your Python code.

The Solution

To achieve this, you will make use of the shutil module, which provides a powerful set of functions for file operations—along with the pathlib module, which offers an easy-to-use interface for handling file paths. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to implement this:

Step 1: Import the Required Modules

First, you’ll need to import the shutil and pathlib modules in your script:

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Step 2: Define Your Files

Next, create a list of files you want to copy. For this example, we’ll look at red.png and blue.png:

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Step 3: Set Up the Destination Path

Now, define where you want to copy the files to. In this case, we’ll set up a path for the dst directory:

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

Step 4: Loop Through Files and Rename Them

You can now loop through each file you want to copy. Inside this loop, construct the new filename format using an index and copy the files:

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

Example Output

When executing the above code, you would see output like this in your console:

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This successfully renames the files as intended!

Conclusion

By leveraging Python's shutil and pathlib, you can effectively manage file copying operations with custom naming conventions. This not only keeps your files organized but also makes them easily identifiable for future use.

This solution can be modified to include more complex naming strategies or to work with larger sets of files as needed. Happy coding!