Copying several files into new folder

Question

I have a folder containing several text files. How would I go about using python to make a copy of everyone of those files and put the copies in a new folder?

What have you tried so far? It's easier to help when we know what you have done up to this point. — Levon, Jul 28 '12 at 00:44

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 28 '12 at 00:47

2

import shutil
shutil.copytree("abc", "copy of abc")

Source: docs.python.org

answered Jul 28 '12 at 00:47

Nick Eaket

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3

Balthazar Rouberol · Answer 2 · 2016-03-03T12:57:07.057

2

You can use the glob module to select your .txt files:

import os, shutil, glob

dst = 'path/of/destination/directory'
try:
    os.makedirs(dst) # create destination directory, if needed (similar to mkdir -p)
except OSError:
    # The directory already existed, nothing to do
    pass
for txt_file in glob.iglob('*.txt'):
    shutil.copy2(txt_file, dst)

The glob module only contains 2 functions: glob and iglob (see documentation). They both find all the pathnames matching a specified pattern according to the rules used by the Unix shell, but glob.glob returns a list and glob.iglob returns a generator.

edited Mar 03 '16 at 12:57

answered Jul 28 '12 at 10:10

Balthazar Rouberol

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`makedirs(dst)` fails if the destination already exists, unlike `mkdir -p` – Matthew Moisen Jan 26 '16 at 01:18
Good catch. I added exception handling around it. – Balthazar Rouberol Mar 03 '16 at 12:56

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:23

1

I would suggest looking at this post: How do I copy a file in python?

ls_dir = os.listdir(src_path)    
for file in ls_dir:
    copyfile(file, dest_path)

That should do it.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:23

Community

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1

answered Jul 28 '12 at 00:46

cloksmith

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3

1

`os.system` is discouraged; `subprocess.call` is a recommended alternative: http://docs.python.org/library/subprocess#replacing-os-system – tshepang Jul 28 '12 at 01:05
1

In this case, neither should be used. Python can read a directory listing just fine (and in a way that handles whitespace in filenames). `os.listdir()` – jordanm Jul 28 '12 at 02:06
Thank you for the feedback @Tshepang and jordanm. I updated my suggested answer accordingly. – cloksmith Jul 29 '12 at 05:34
Unless you will need `ls_dir` again, you can shorten this to `for file in os.listdir(src_path)`. I would also rather you avoid using a word like `file` for an arbitrary variable, since `file()` is a built-in function. – tshepang Jul 29 '12 at 07:39

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jul 28 '12 at 00:46

0

Use shutil.copyfile

import shutil
shutil.copyfile(src, dst)

answered Jul 28 '12 at 00:46

sizzzzlerz

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Copying several files into new folder

4 Answers4