Python search for partial filename

Question

I am using Python 3 and want to check for 2 things. Firstly I want to ensure there are 3 files in a directory, then I want to check that the 3 files match certain rules....

3 files in directory
A file called testfile1.txt
A file that matches myfile-*.txt (for example myfile-473spain.txt)
A file that matches newlog-*.log (for example newlog-55.log)

I have this so far...

list = os.listdir('myfiles') # dir is your directory path
number_files = len(list)

if number_files !=3 :
    print('Incorrect Number Of Files')
else:
    print('Correct Number Of Files')

if os.path.isfile('myfiles/testfile1.txt'):
    print ("myfiles/testfile1.txt - FOUND")
else:
    print ("myfiles/testfile1.txt - NOT FOUND")

But I am now stuck on how to search for the 2 partial match files. What can I try next?

Does this answer your question? [Find files in a directory with a partial string match](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37420624/find-files-in-a-directory-with-a-partial-string-match) — Georgy, Apr 26 '20 at 23:32
_But I am now stuck on how to search for the 2 parital match files._ Can you be more specific about which pat you're struggling with? As an aside, I would recommend using pathlib instead of os for these kinds of tasks. — AMC, Apr 27 '20 at 03:40

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 26 '20 at 23:20

1

Use glob.glob:

import glob

if glob.glob('myfiles/myfile-*.txt'):
    print('match for "myfile-*.txt" found')
else:
    print('match for "myfile-*.txt" not found')

answered Apr 26 '20 at 23:20

jfaccioni

7,099
1
9
25

Why use the glob library instead of pathlib? – AMC Apr 27 '20 at 03:41

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 26 '20 at 23:22

1

You could loop over the list you created in your first rule. Then you could you the "in" statement: Something like:

for fileName in list:
   if ("myfile-" in fileName and ".txt" in fileName):
      #OK

answered Apr 26 '20 at 23:22

Tom De Coninck

126
5

Why the choice to use `camelCase` for variable names? – AMC Apr 27 '20 at 03:41
Just a habit, Java main – Tom De Coninck Apr 27 '20 at 09:32

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 26 '20 at 23:34

To match the beginning and end of a string, simply use the str.endswith and str.startswith. If you want to do more complicated matching, look into the re module.

file = 'myfile-something.txt'

if file.startswith('myfile-') and file.endswith('.txt'):
    print('success')

Python search for partial filename

3 Answers3