Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

Dietrich · Jan 1st, 2006, 2:50 PM

I need to move all .jpg files in one folder/directory that are older than a given date, let's say April 1, 2003, to another folder. How can I do this best in Python? Need ideas.

I am using Windows XP and have looked at glob.glob() and os.stat(). When you move a file do you have to use copy and remove?

Arevos · Jan 1st, 2006, 4:28 PM

Moving a file can be done through os.rename, I believe (at least in Linux, they can, and since the os module is meant to be OS independent, it should work on Windows, too). A little confusing, I agree, but those familiar with Unix will recognise that renames and moves are essentially synonymous.

The following code might solve your problem:

(Toggle Plain Text)

import os
import stat
from datetime import datetime

def modified_date(filename):
    return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(os.stat(filename)[stat.ST_MTIME])

move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1)    # 1st April 2003
original_folder = ...
new_folder = ...

for filename in os.listdir(original_folder):
    full_filename = os.path.join(original_folder, filename)

    if modified_date(full_filename) < move_date and filename.endswith(".jpg"):
        os.rename(full_filename, os.path.join(new_folder, filename))

Sane · Jan 1st, 2006, 4:33 PM

You'll wanna check out the module shutil. It's as simple as shutil.move or shutil.copytree.

Dietrich · Jan 1st, 2006, 4:51 PM

Thanks for the info! I am working on code.

Arevos · Jan 1st, 2006, 4:51 PM

Sane's probably right. The docs for shutil.move seem to imply that os.rename only works for files on the same filesystem, so os.rename might not be able to move files between drives, whilst shutil.move can.

Replace os.rename with shutil.move, then

hydroxide · Jan 10th, 2006, 10:27 PM

A few suggested tweaks:

(Toggle Plain Text)

import os
import glob
import shutil
import time
from datetime import datetime

move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1)    # 1st April 2003
move_date = time.mktime(move_date.timetuple())
original_folder = ...
new_folder = ...

for filename in glob.glob1(original_folder, "*.jpg"):
    srcfile = os.path.join(original_folder, filename)
    destfile = os.path.join(new_folder, filename)
    if os.stat(srcfile).st_mtime < move_date:
        shutil.move(srcfile, destfile)

--OH.

Dietrich · Jan 12th, 2006, 9:41 AM

Thanks Hydroxide,

that is real smooth code! Getting the date formats to match for the comparison is the trick!

Jan 1st, 2006, 2:50 PM	#1
Dietrich Professional Programmer Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 434 Rep Power: 4	Moving files between folders I need to move all .jpg files in one folder/directory that are older than a given date, let's say April 1, 2003, to another folder. How can I do this best in Python? Need ideas. I am using Windows XP and have looked at glob.glob() and os.stat(). When you move a file do you have to use copy and remove? __________________ I looked it up on the Intergnats!

Jan 1st, 2006, 4:28 PM	#2
Arevos Programming Guru Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: England Posts: 1,499 Rep Power: 4	Moving a file can be done through os.rename, I believe (at least in Linux, they can, and since the os module is meant to be OS independent, it should work on Windows, too). A little confusing, I agree, but those familiar with Unix will recognise that renames and moves are essentially synonymous. The following code might solve your problem: (Toggle Plain Text) import os import stat from datetime import datetime def modified_date(filename): return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(os.stat(filename)[stat.ST_MTIME]) move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1) # 1st April 2003 original_folder = ... new_folder = ... for filename in os.listdir(original_folder): full_filename = os.path.join(original_folder, filename) if modified_date(full_filename) < move_date and filename.endswith(".jpg"): os.rename(full_filename, os.path.join(new_folder, filename)) import os import stat from datetime import datetime def modified_date(filename): return datetime.utcfromtimestamp(os.stat(filename)[stat.ST_MTIME]) move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1) # 1st April 2003 original_folder = ... new_folder = ... for filename in os.listdir(original_folder): full_filename = os.path.join(original_folder, filename) if modified_date(full_filename) < move_date and filename.endswith(".jpg"): os.rename(full_filename, os.path.join(new_folder, filename))

Jan 1st, 2006, 4:51 PM	#4
Dietrich Professional Programmer Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 434 Rep Power: 4	Thanks for the info! I am working on code. __________________ I looked it up on the Intergnats!

Jan 10th, 2006, 10:27 PM	#6
hydroxide Programmer Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 73 Rep Power: 4	A few suggested tweaks: (Toggle Plain Text) import os import glob import shutil import time from datetime import datetime move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1) # 1st April 2003 move_date = time.mktime(move_date.timetuple()) original_folder = ... new_folder = ... for filename in glob.glob1(original_folder, ".jpg"): srcfile = os.path.join(original_folder, filename) destfile = os.path.join(new_folder, filename) if os.stat(srcfile).st_mtime < move_date: shutil.move(srcfile, destfile) import os import glob import shutil import time from datetime import datetime move_date = datetime(2003, 4, 1) # 1st April 2003 move_date = time.mktime(move_date.timetuple()) original_folder = ... new_folder = ... for filename in glob.glob1(original_folder, ".jpg"): srcfile = os.path.join(original_folder, filename) destfile = os.path.join(new_folder, filename) if os.stat(srcfile).st_mtime < move_date: shutil.move(srcfile, destfile) --OH.

Jan 12th, 2006, 9:41 AM	#7
Dietrich Professional Programmer Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 434 Rep Power: 4	Thanks Hydroxide, that is real smooth code! Getting the date formats to match for the comparison is the trick! __________________ I looked it up on the Intergnats!

Jan 1st, 2006, 4:33 PM	#3
Sane Programming Guru Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,799 Rep Power: 5	You'll wanna check out the module shutil. It's as simple as shutil.move or shutil.copytree.

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Programming Forums > Script Programming > Python

Moving files between folders