comparing elements of a list with a string

[Larry Bates]

Shriphani wrote:
> Hello all,
> I have a problem here. I have a list named list_of_files which
> contains filenames with their timestamps attached to the name. If I
> have a string "fstab", and I want to list out the files in whose names
> the word fstab appears should I go about like this :
> 
> def listAllbackups(file):
>     list_of_files = os.listdir("/home/shriphani/backupdir")
>     for element in list_of_files:
>          if element.find(file) != -1:
>              date = ###
>              time = ####
>               return (date, time)
> 
> The major trouble is that the return statement causes it to exit after
> attempt one. How do I use the yield statement here?
> 
> Regards,
> Shriphani Palakodety
> 

You should take a quick look at glob().  You may be able to use it to make life 
a lot easier.  Here is how you would do it if all your backup files begin with
fstab.

import glob
list_of_backup_files=glob.glob('/home/shriphani/backupdir/glob*')

If "fstab" can appear anywhere in the filename, this might not work for you.

-Larry