How to edit and save text files (.py) in Google Colab?

Question

I cloned a github repo using !git clone https://github.com/llSourcell/Pokemon_GAN.git. I wanted to modify a .py file inside Colab. So i used %load filename.py as suggested here (How to load/edit/run/save text files (.py) into an IPython notebook cell?). But whenever i run this command, i get disconnected after some time. I was wondering if there is some other way to edit .py file without undergoing the hassle of downloading it to pc,editing and then re uploading it.

There's no particularly good way to edit directly in colab right now. Can you file an issue with repro steps for the hang on `%load` at https://github.com/googlecolab/colabtools? — Craig Citro, Feb 09 '18 at 05:35

score 63 · Answer 1 · edited Mar 29 '22 at 13:30

63

In the early days of Colab you could have used Ipython magic commands. Use below command

%pycat code.py

A pop up will appear displaying the code. You can copy it and edit it locally.
Remove the file using below command

!rm code.py

Copy the edited code to a cell in notebook and add below command at the top of the cell

%%writefile code.py

Run the cell. A file will be created with the contents present in the cell.

Updates: Now there are lot more easy and convenient options.

In the files section, there is an option to upload files or you can double click on the file, make changes and ctrl+s to save those changes.
You can also use https://github.com/abhishekkrthakur/colabcode to edit using visual studio code server.

edited Mar 29 '22 at 13:30

brianlmerritt

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answered Nov 14 '18 at 09:22

rahul

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This answer should be accepted. Works like a charm! – Sushanth Sep 23 '19 at 12:19
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No need to use `!rm` to delete the file. Just run the new text with `%%writefile code.py` on top. It will overwrite the old file. – Amin Darvand Jun 04 '23 at 10:24

score 43 · Answer 2 · edited Sep 11 '20 at 09:23

43

Colab includes a text editor you can use to create, open, and delete .py files directly.

All is done in the Files view (see below).

To create or delete a file, right click and choose "New file" or "Delete file".
To edit a file, double click on it. It appears on the right portion of your screen. Make any changes you wish. Changes are saved automatically.

edited Sep 11 '20 at 09:23

mherzog

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answered Oct 04 '19 at 00:20

Bob Smith

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simplest thing are best! – user305883 Oct 30 '19 at 13:53
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It's the sort of thing I was looking for. However, after editing the python there, colab was still using the old version of the file. I had to right click and do that Refresh which is shown in the left-hand part of the screen for it to be truly updated. A little maddening that I cannot accomplish things in the right window. – demongolem May 01 '20 at 16:33
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how to open the file editor? double click the file? – cloudscomputes Jul 09 '20 at 08:45
Thanks! The UI doesn't make it clear that you can double-click a file to open it. Also not clear how to save the edits, but refreshing the file worked for me. – roygbiv Feb 21 '23 at 15:11

score 24 · Answer 3 · answered May 31 '18 at 01:10

Unfortunately, it seems, colab do not support %load line magic (yet), and yet, you can see the file content using !cat your_file.py and then manually, copy the output contents, write them to a new cell and write %%writefile your_new_file_name.py at the top of the new cell to save this back to the instance. Note that, this will not be saved to your google drive yet.

Example:
!ls
output: colabData/

%%writefile something.py
print("everything's fine.")

!ls
output: colabData/ something.py

%run something.py
output: everything's fine.

What about drive notepad, does it work? It gives me an error everytime I try to access a file using it with "Open With". — aspiring1, May 14 '19 at 11:23

hossein hayati · Answer 4 · 2020-05-22T05:35:57.227

15

you can edit it like this:

click on the triple bar (≡ on the left side of your windows)
click on files (the folder icon on the left)
click on Mount Drive and mount your drive
find your .py file and double click on it
edit it
press ctrl+s to save

edit:
these steps were after cloning your code into your drive
you should first mount your drive and clone your repo into your drive

edited May 22 '20 at 05:35

answered May 22 '20 at 05:30

hossein hayati

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Thanks, I did not know about this feature of google colab. – ARKhan Feb 21 '21 at 14:42

score 4 · Answer 5 · answered Mar 10 '18 at 16:29

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Not a perfect solution but can be useful for someone.

You can use !cat file_name.py to access file_name.py contents, copy the contents in the next cell and now you can run it or edit it.

answered Mar 10 '18 at 16:29

Krishna

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score 4 · Answer 6 · answered Jul 07 '19 at 11:15

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I found it easier to edit the file locally.

You can download it from the left panel.
Right click on any file and download it.
Next, edit the file.
Next, upload the file.
use mv to move the file to the right location.

answered Jul 07 '19 at 11:15

Netro

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I didn't know about the (very useful) Files tab! This method is easier for me too. – h3ct0r Jan 04 '20 at 16:00

score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Oct 29 '18 at 05:53

3

Solution:

p = """
Yadda yadda
whatever you want just don't use triple quotes.
"""

c = """text_file = open("text.text", "w+");text_file.write(p);text_file.close()""" 

exec(c)

edited Oct 29 '18 at 05:53

maxymoo

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answered Oct 29 '18 at 00:53

Emmanuel Lopez

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score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 26 '20 at 17:32

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Easiest solution just double click on the file you want to edit.The file opens and edit the file,save it and that's that.You are done

answered Oct 26 '20 at 17:32

Sihat Afnan

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score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 01 '18 at 02:24

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There is an app called Python Compiler Editor that you can connect to your Google Drive account, edit files and save them back.

answered Nov 01 '18 at 02:24

Marafon Thiago

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Sam · Answer 10 · 2020-03-26T16:01:49.090

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The easiest way is:

1- Go to where you want the file to be with:

%cd WhereYouWantItToBe

2- Then write using:

%%writefile NameOfFile.txt
Hey there here is the start of the text
and also here
here is the end

3- Now run this cell and the file is going to be saved where you decided in step one.

edited Mar 26 '20 at 16:01

answered Mar 26 '20 at 15:15

Sam

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score 0 · Answer 11 · answered Jul 08 '18 at 10:59

0

While I don't have a way of editing in the notebook, I will share my pipeline. Quite obvious really:

fork the repo or create a new one(for a new project)
create a branch just for uploading
make changes and push
evaluate
make changes

Hope that helps.

answered Jul 08 '18 at 10:59

aneesh joshi

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Jul 28 '21 at 07:18

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With the addition of the terminal (the icon is in the lower left corner), now we can edit files through vim.

answered Jul 28 '21 at 07:18

andandandand

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it is a Colab Pro option ( right now ), normal users can't access to terminal like that – hossein hayati Nov 04 '21 at 09:58

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Oct 14 '21 at 05:16

0

You can open the file using the file explorer programatically, like this:

from google.colab import files
files.view('your_file.py')

It will open your file in a separate panel and you can then edit and save it there directly.

answered Oct 14 '21 at 05:16

jerpint

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score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Mar 20 '23 at 02:36

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Solution: Use the file management tool to modify and save the files like this:

from google.colab import files
files.view('your_file.py')

Then a new panel will appear on the right side so that to you can modify and save it.

answered Mar 20 '23 at 02:36

KingLiu

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How to edit and save text files (.py) in Google Colab?

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