How can I move and copy files using python?

[GrayGeek]

<posted & mailed>

Alex Martelli wrote:

> Kay Lee wrote:
> 
>> I looked up os module to find out some method to move and copy files in
>> python,
>>  but os doesn't support such methods.
>> Is there any way to move & copy files in python?
> 
> Look at module shutil in the standard library.
> 
> 
> Alex

Here's a script I wrote as part of a BBS system using SuSE 6.4 replace a
WildCat BBS running on Win98.

# Program: bbs_distribute.py
# run from command line using: python bbs_distribte.py
# or by making a small excutable script that has the same
# line in it, like so:
# #!/bin/bash
# python bbs_distribute.py
#
import os
a = os.system('clear')
print 'Mounting /floppy'
try:
      a = os.system('mount /floppy')
except SystemError, detail:
      print 'Cannot mount floppy: ', detail
      os.exit()
print "Now copying files to home directories"
# command here to create etinfiles.txt
try:
      a = os.system('ls /floppy/*.001 > ~/etinfiles.txt')
except IOError, detail:
      print 'Cannot create etinfiles.txt: ', detail
      os.exit()
# now open file and read names into var el
try:
      f = open('etinfiles.txt','r')
except IOError, detail:
      print 'Cannot open etinfiles.txt: ', detail
      os.exit()
try:
      el = f.read()
except IOError, detail:
      print 'Cannot read from etinfiles.txt: ', detail
      f.close()
      os.exit()
f.close()
a = 0
while a < len(el):
      tmp = el[a:a+20]
      fname = tmp[8:20]
      acctname = fname[0:5]
      print fname, acctname
      b = os.system('cp /floppy/'+fname+' /home/storage/'+fname)
      if os.path.exists('/home/'+acctname):
            b = os.system('cp /floppy/'+fname+' /home/'+acctname+'/'+fname)
#           b = os.system('chmod /home/'+acctname+'/'+fname, 444)
            b = os.system('chown '+acctname+':users
/home/'+acctname+'/'+fname)
      else:
            b = os.system('cp /floppy/'+fname+' /home/badaccts/'+fname)
      a = a + 21
b = os.system('umount /floppy')
b = os.system('rm etinfiles.txt')
#
# now look in the /home/badaccts subdir for any accounts
# that have been activated.
#
print "Now processing missing account files from /home/badaccts..."
try:
      a=os.system('ls /home/badaccts/*.001 > badfiles.txt')
except IOError,detail:
      print "Cannot create badfiles.txt: ",detail
      os.exit()
# now open file and read names into var el
try:
      f=open('badfiles.txt','r')
except IOError,detail:
      print "Cannot open badfiles.txt: ",detail
      os.exit()
try:
      el = f.read()
except IOError,detail:
      print "Cannot read badfiles.txt: ",detail
      os.exit()
f.close()
a=0
while a < len(el):
      tmp = el[a:a+27]
      fname = tmp[15:27]
      acctname = fname[0:5]
      print "Trying to move: ",fname, acctname
      if os.path.exists('/home/'+acctname):
            b = os.system('cp /home/badaccts/'+fname,
'/home/'+acctname+'/'+fname)
            b = os.system('chown '+acctname+':users
/home/'+acctname+'/'+fname)
      a = a + 28
#command to delete 'badfiles.txt'
b = os.system('rm badfiles.txt')

-- 

-
GrayGeek