How do I read/write files to an unknown user directory?

Question

I'm attempting to read and write files from a User Directory, (C:\Users\USERNAME\Test Source) But I've been unsuccessful in finding any resources on how I can auto detect the name of the user, USERNAME in the above example, or anyway that I can have it read and write to the directory without knowledge off what a users name is. Could anyone point me towards the right direction or methods for this, if it's even a logical request? I'm not sure how much difference, if any, it makes but this program is being written in Python 2.7.

score 5 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:59

5

The simplest way is this:

import os
print os.path.expanduser('~')

Append your folder to the path like so:

userdir = os.path.expanduser('~')
print os.path.join(userdir, 'Test Source')

Besides requiring the least lines of code, this method has the advantage of working under every OS (Linux, Windows XP / 7 / 8 / etc).

answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:59

Torben Klein

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Also a good example of using `os.path.join()` instead of combining the strings yourself. – Gavin H Feb 12 '14 at 15:49

tusharmakkar08 · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-28T05:18:03.150

0

You can use in windows command line

 echo %username%

or

  whoami

for getting the username of the user who is currently logged in . Store it in a variable and then append it to the path name.

You can also use

‘C:\users\%username%\file‘

directly .To check through whoami do

l=`whoami`
echo $l

edited Jun 28 '13 at 05:18

answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:09

tusharmakkar08

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Thank you for the quick reply. I'll try that out. I've been trying to figure this out for weeks now.... I'm very new to actually programming. – Andrew Davis Jun 28 '13 at 05:10
After attempting this for 20 minutes I just now realized you said, "Store it in a variable and then append it to the path name." Finally got this to work. Thank you. – Andrew Davis Jun 28 '13 at 05:33
Good to know it worked for you . You need to accept the answer as correct (by clicking on the checkmark below the answer) if it works. – tusharmakkar08 Jun 28 '13 at 05:51

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:09

0

Use the %userprofile% variable in your path if you're on Windows:

%userprofile%\Test Source\file.txt

answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:09

MisterMetaphor

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Thanks. I'll try that. Very new to programming here. – Andrew Davis Jun 28 '13 at 05:12

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:10

0

Try:

>>> import getpass
>>> import os.path

>>> usename = getpass.getuser()
>>> mypath = os.path.join("C:\Users", username, "Test Source")

answered Jun 28 '13 at 05:10

Steve Barnes

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How do I read/write files to an unknown user directory?

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