Скачать или смотреть Python File Management: Move Files Based on Name Conditions

Discover how to move files in Python based on complex filename conditions. Learn to compare parts of filenames effectively and create organized file management solutions.
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Mastering File Management in Python: Move Files Based on Specific Conditions

Managing files effectively can become a challenging task, especially when dealing with multiple files with similar naming conventions. In this post, we will explore a practical solution in Python to move files into a designated folder based on their names and timestamp values. This approach is particularly useful when you need to select the most recent or relevant files based on certain criteria.

Understanding the Problem

Imagine you have multiple files stored in a directory. Each file has a naming structure that consists of three parts:

First Part: A descriptor (e.g., "Review Report -")

Second Part: A version or identifier (e.g., "2020-3")

Third Part: A timestamp (e.g., ".20230110151743889")

For instance, in a folder named my_folder, we might have the following files:

Review Report - 2020-3.20230110151743889.xlsx

Review Report - 2020-3.20230110151753535.xlsx

Review Report - 2019-4.20230110151744423.xlsx

The Selection Criteria

The goal is to move files to another folder based on these criteria:

If multiple files share the same second part, we should keep the one with the larger timestamp (third part) and discard the others.

Proposed Solution

To achieve this, we will implement a Python script that reads the file names, extracts the necessary parts, and determines which files to move. Below is a structured approach to how we can accomplish this using a dictionary to store the most relevant files.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

Import Required Libraries: We need to import the os and glob libraries, which help us work with file paths and retrieve file lists.

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Create the Dictionary: Use a dictionary to keep track of the most relevant timestamp for each second part.

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Iterate Through Files: Loop through each file in the target folder using the glob library.

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Conditionally Update the Dictionary: Use the dictionary to store or update values based on the second part and the third part.

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Execution of File Moving: After identifying the files to keep, implement the code for moving the selected files to the desired directory.

Bringing It All Together

Here’s a complete Python snippet putting all the above steps into action:

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Conclusion

By utilizing these steps, you can easily move files in Python based on specified criteria in their names, ensuring that only the most relevant files are retained in your target directory. This method not only saves time but also keeps your file storage organized. Feel free to adjust the paths and criteria to fit your specific use case!

Whether you’re managing audit reports, project files, or any other documents, mastering this file management approach will streamline your processes and lead to increased efficiency. Happy coding!