Using column value as output path location python

Question

Is it possible if i have several columns to have my output go to. If I want to use column 3 as the storage location of my output files. main_folder below contains folder1,folder2, folder3

C:/Desktop/main_folder/
file.txt

Bob   November  folder_1
Jon   January   folder_3
Sam   December  folder_1
Jane  April     folder_2

path = /Desktop/main_folder/*
with open('file.txt', 'r') as input:
    for lines in input:
        line = line.strip()
        with open(output, 'w') as outfile:
            outfile.write(line, path)

Is it possible to select just column 3 and use that path as output?

Does your script run? `path = /Desktop/main_folder/*` seems incorrect syntax, and `outfile.write(line, path)` does not need a path. But `output` as path for the output-file needs to be build from `path` and the third column. — hc_dev, Dec 16 '22 at 20:32
correct. `with open(f'{line}/{output}', 'w') as outfile:`. I think you also need to handle if the storage path is not created yet check here https://stackoverflow.com/a/47651935/9816541 — Amzar, Dec 16 '22 at 20:33

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 16 '22 at 20:46

Try this

with open('file.txt', 'r') as input:
    for line in input:
        columns = line.strip().split()  # split line into columns using spaces as delimiter
        path = os.path.join('/Desktop/main_folder', columns[2])  # path is built from main-folder and third column
        with open(path, 'w') as outfile:
            outfile.write(line)  # write the line to it's respective file path

Step by step explanation

This code reads each line of the input file
Then splits it into columns using the split() method.
It takes the third column (index 2) and combines it with the base path /Desktop/main_folder using os.path.join() to create the full output path.
Finally, it opens the output file at the specified path and writes the original line to it.

Note: this code assumes that the input file is in the format you provided, with the columns separated by spaces. If the columns are separated by a different character, you will need to use a different method to split the line into columns.

See also: python 3.x - Create new folder with pathlib and write files into it

Please avoid using `input` as a variable name as it has a special use in Python. — user19077881, Dec 16 '22 at 20:36
I fixed your indentation along with improvements (see edits). You could add links to Python docs for the methods you mentioned. This might help to introduce their usage. — hc_dev, Dec 16 '22 at 20:43

Using column value as output path location python

1 Answers1

Step by step explanation

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