Python - create directories that don't exist from list

Question

I have a directory with the following subdirs:

folder_001 to folder_100

However, I need to test as some directories may be missing. Is the following the best way to accomplish this. Seems a bit long winded.

>>> l = []
>>> for i in l:
...  for f in os.listdir('.'):
...   if not os.path.exists(i):
...    os.mkdir(i)
...

Thanks.

Please refer to http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2259382/pythonic-way-to-check-if-a-file-exists — Kobi K, Oct 09 '13 at 12:24
I would just create every folder and ignore the error if it exists. — Matthias, Oct 09 '13 at 12:28

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Oct 09 '13 at 12:26

5

for i in xrange(1,101):
   name = 'folder_%03d' % (i)
   if not os.path.exists(name): 
      os.mkdir(name)

answered Oct 09 '13 at 12:26

Steve Barnes

27,618
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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 09 '13 at 13:03

1

import shutil

for item in os.listdir('.'):
    if not os.path.exists(item):
        os.makedirs(item)
    else:
        shutil.rmtree(item)           #removes a tree with all subdirs!
        os.makedirs(item)

answered Oct 09 '13 at 13:03

securecurve

5,589
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45
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score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 09 '13 at 13:04

0

more generic:

l = []
for f in os.listdir('.'):
    if f in l: l.remove(f)
for f in l:
    os.mkdir(f)

or:

l = []
dirs = os.listdir('.')
for f in l:
    if not f in dirs: os.mkdir(f)

answered Oct 09 '13 at 13:04

Cesar

707
3
13

Python - create directories that don't exist from list

3 Answers3