Python doesn't understand %userprofile%

[Mike Driscoll]

On Jun 10, 11:11 am, Tim Golden <m... at timgolden.me.uk> wrote:
> bsag... at gmail.com wrote:
> > In xp when I try os.path.getmtime("%userprofile/dir/file%") Python
> > bites back with "cannot find the path specified" Since my script has
> > to run on machines where the username is unspecified I need a fix.
>
> Well I can see a few problems here.
>
> First is that putting percent signs around the whole path is
> never going to work anyway. You want something like:
>
> "%USERPROFILE%/dir/file".
>
> Secondly, the expansion of environment variables like
> USERPROFILE is done for you by the shell or the command
> prompt. You have to do it for yourself if you're opening your
> own files. You want something like:
>
> import os
> print os.path.getmtime (os.path.join (os.environ['USERPROFILE'], "ntuser.ini"))
>
> But finally, what do you mean "run on machines where the username is
> unspecified"? If you mean: where no user is logged in, then you won't
> have a (meaningful) userprofile in any case: it might be the Default User
> profile; I'm not sure. But is that what you want?
>
> You *can* use the functions in the win32profile module of the pywin32
> packages to find out various things about profiles directories, but things
> can get quite complicated if users have roaming profiles and the like.
>
> TJG

Tim,

I'm surprised you didn't mention your excellent winshell utility. I
use it for this sort of issue all the time where I need to update
files on login and I don't know the user's name beforehand.

The winshell.Desktop() one has been a life saver and I think the OP
could probably use winshell for their problem. Or I may be completely
off my rocker.

Either way, here's the link: http://timgolden.me.uk/python/winshell.html

Mike