Python loop through folders and rename files

Question

I am trying to go through a bunch of folders and go into each one and rename specific files to different names. I got stuck on just the loop through folders part.

My file system looks as follows:

Root Directory
Folder
    File1
    File2
    File3
Folder
    File1
    File2
    File3

The code I have is:

os.chdir(rootDir)

for folder in os.listdir():
    print(folder)
    os.chdir(rootDir + 'folder')
    for f in os.listdir():
        print(f)
    os.chdir(rootDir)

So in my mind it will go through the folders then enter the folder and list the files inside then go back to the root directory

How is your code behaving vs what you're expecting? – Michael Aug 11 '16 at 23:47 — Michael, Aug 11 '16 at 23:47

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 11 '16 at 23:46

4

Have a look at os.walk

import os
for dir, subdirs, files in os.walk("."):
    for f in files:
        f_new = f + 'bak'
        os.rename(os.path.join(root, f), os.path.join(root, f_new))

answered Aug 11 '16 at 23:46

Hans Then

10,935
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note that this will recurse down through all child subfolders (this may or maynot be what OP wants ... but solid answer all the same) – Joran Beasley Aug 11 '16 at 23:51

score 3 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 11 '16 at 23:43

3

You need os.walk. It returns a 3-tuple (dirpath, dirnames, filenames) that you can iterate.

answered Aug 11 '16 at 23:43

chapelo

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while true i dont think this answers op's question ... (I dont think he wants to recurse into the subfolders etc) – Joran Beasley Aug 11 '16 at 23:44

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 17 '23 at 15:57

I know it's been a while, but be aware of the extension as well while using os.rename() after os.walk().

If someone wishes to keep the same extension, then following should work:

import os

path_dir = "/dir/path"

# get all file names in the directory
for dir, subdirs, files in os.walk(path_dir):
    for f in files:
        # separating the file name and extension
        file_name = f.split('.')[0]
        ext = f.split('.')[-1]
        # new file name
        new_file_name = file_name + "<extended_part_of_the_name>" + "." + ext
        os.rename(os.path.join(path_dir, f), os.path.join(path_dir, new_file_name))

In case the file name has more than one period, replace the line file_name = f.split('.')[0] with file_name = f.rsplit('.', maxsplit=1)[0] — Harry, Jun 02 '23 at 03:50

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 11 '16 at 23:49

def change_files(root_dir,target_files,rename_fn):
    for fname in os.listdir(root_path):
        path = os.path.join(root_path,fname)
        if fname in target_files:
           new_name = rename_fn(fname)
           os.move(path,os.path.join(root_path,new_name)

def rename_file(old_name):
    return old_name.replace("txt","log")

change_files("/home/target/dir",["File1.txt","File2.txt"],rename_file)

Python loop through folders and rename files

4 Answers4

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