Can't evaluate if folder exist python

Question

I'm trying to check if a path exists so it creates it if it doesn't exist but it always runs despite the folder existing. i.e. evaluating to false:

if not os.path.isdir(('thumnail\\' + folderName).replace('\\', '/')):
    os.makedirs('thumbnail\\' + folderName)

Whats the correct way to do this. I've tried using path.exists, changing the escaped '\' to '/' and not doing it but its always false.

Possible duplicate of [Automatically creating directories with file output](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12517451/automatically-creating-directories-with-file-output) — Error - Syntactical Remorse, Jul 15 '19 at 18:50
Though I prefer the `try/except` method [from this solution](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/32123394/workflow-to-create-a-folder-if-it-doesnt-exist-already) — Error - Syntactical Remorse, Jul 15 '19 at 18:51
Possible duplicate of [Workflow to create a folder if it doesn't exist already](https://stackoverflow.com/q/32123394/8150685) — Error - Syntactical Remorse, Jul 15 '19 at 18:52
Syntatical Remorse, what do you mean. Its evaluating the xamp web directory as the root so I think this is the full path. — Deeswoc, Jul 15 '19 at 18:57
`'thumnail\\'` is a relative path. Meaning from where I am running this script look into the `thumnail` directory for my `folderName`. — Error - Syntactical Remorse, Jul 15 '19 at 18:58
'thumnail\\' isn't where the script is bring run from. the script is nowhere in that path. — Deeswoc, Jul 15 '19 at 19:02
I don't think you understand how relative paths works when you are running a python script.... You may want to [read this](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/40416072/reading-file-using-relative-path-in-python-project/40416154) — Error - Syntactical Remorse, Jul 15 '19 at 19:04
You're checking for a different directory name than the one being created -- `thumnail` vs. `thumbnail`. Is this intentional? — John Gordon, Jul 15 '19 at 19:05
John Gordon, yeah that was the issue. I copy pasted the mkdir line and printed the evaluation for that. That's why I was seeing it as correct syntactically. — Deeswoc, Jul 15 '19 at 19:22

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 15 '19 at 19:11

To check path validity in python use

os.path.exists('Absolute or Relative path of directory or file')

the problem with your code maybe that 'thumnail\' isn't an absolute path or relative path, in that format it maybe referring to the current working directory.

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 15 '19 at 19:19

I think you are using windows that's why you are using backward slash (\). It will work fine if you use forward slash as well (/)

Also, there is one spelling mistake thumnail and if you are using forward slash in the first line then use it same for second as well.

if not os.path.isdir(('thumbnail\\' + folderName).replace('\\', '/')):
    os.makedirs(('thumbnail\\' + folderName).replace('\\', '/'))

Also, try using python Pathlib package to make your code windows Linux environment independent.

There is a great tutorial here. - https://realpython.com/python-pathlib/

if you are windows make string raw type to avoid conflict with a backward slash as a escape character like this r'thumbnail\'

Can't evaluate if folder exist python

2 Answers2