Python get meta data for hidden files on windows

Question

I have been using the replies from here to read out the metadata of files on windows. However i noticed that it would just ignore hidden files.

How can one also include hidden files in this approach?

Answer 1

You can combine python's os library with Windows' Shell.Application object, as done here, something like this:

import os
import win32com.client

sh = win32com.client.gencache.EnsureDispatch('Shell.Application', 0)
path = r'c:\mypath\myfolder'
ns = sh.NameSpace(path)

colnum = 0
columns = []
while True:
    colname=ns.GetDetailsOf(None, colnum)
    if not colname:
        break
    columns.append(colname)
    colnum += 1

for name in os.listdir(path): # list all files
    print(path + '\\' + name)
    item = ns.ParseName(name)
    for colnum in range(len(columns)):
        colval=ns.GetDetailsOf(item, colnum)
        if colval:
            print('\t', columns[colnum], colval)

hidden files will display (H attribute is for Hidden)

...
Attributes HA
...