File rename using python

Python rename file: How to rename a file in Python

There are many instances when you decide to name your file something but later regret it and want to rename the file. It is not as simple as renaming a folder in your computer system, but in Python, renaming a file is a very easy task. In this blog, we will see various methods to rename files.

Table of contents

1. Rename file in Python
2. Using os.rename() method to rename file
3. Renaming only the Extension of the file in Python
4. Closing thoughts

Rename file in Python

In order to rename a file, the first thing we need is the path of the file. The path is the location of the file on the disk in a computer system. To be more particular, an Absolute path contains the complete directory list required to locate the file and a Relative path contains the current directory and then the file name.

Using os.rename() method to rename file

OS module in Python provides functions for interacting with the operating system. OS comes under Python’s standard utility modules. This module provides a portable way of using operating system dependent functionality.
Python rename() file is a method used to rename a file or a directory in Python programming and can be declared by passing two arguments named src (Source) and dest (Destination).

Syntax:

os.rename(src, dest, *, src_dir, dest_dir)

Parameters:

src: A path-like object representing the file system path. This is the source file path that is to be renamed.
dest: Destination is the new name of the file or directory you want to change.
src_dir: Source file directory is an optional parameter telling where the file is stored.
dest_dir: The destination file directory is also an optional parameter telling where the renamed file should be saved on the disk.

Input:

# importing the os module import os # Source src = 'filee.text' # Destination dest = 'file.txt' # Renaming the file os.rename(src, dest) print ("The file has been renamed.")

Output:

The file has been renamed.

This method does not have any return type.
Keep in mind if the «dest» already exists then the FileExistsError will be thrown in Windows and in the case of UNIX, an OSError will be thrown.

Renaming only the Extension of the file in Python

Sometimes you might want to rename the extension of your file and this can be quickly done using rename() method in Python. This can be done by selecting the file and then getting only the file name using the splitext() method of the os module.
This method returns the root and extension separately. Once we get the root/base of the filename, we can add the new extension to it while renaming it using the rename() method.

Input:

import os # Selecting the list print('Before rename:') file = file.txt print(file) # Renaming the file for file_name in file: # construct full file path old_file_name = os.path.join(folder, file_name) # Change the extension from txt to pdf new_file_name = old_file_name.replace('.txt', '.pdf') os.rename(old_file_name, new_file_name) print('After rename:') print(file)

Output:

Before rename: file.txt After rename: file.pdf 

Closing thoughts

Renaming a file in Python is as easy as naming a file. The Os module in Python is used to rename a file name and other functions. One can learn more about other Python data types here.

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How to Rename File in Python? (with OS module)

Python is a powerful and dynamic language that allows us to perform a plethora of actions and operations. A much-needed set of operations in python is file handling. It is important as files are the basic building block of any system.

In this article, we will learn a fundamental action in file handling, how to rename files with code. Before we dive into let us have a brief about what are files and why we need to rename them.

Why do we need to rename files?

A file is a grouping of data or information stored on a computer or electronic device. They are typically saved with a specific file extension, such as .txt for text files, .jpg for images, and .mp3 for audio files, to assist the operating system and other software in determining the type of file and how to open or process it.

In Python, a file is an object that contains a collection of data, stored on a disk with a specific name and file path. We can read, write, and append data to the file.

We may need to rename files for a variety of reasons:

1. To be more descriptive or meaningful, or to follow a naming convention
2. Organize them by grouping similar files together.
3. Avoid having duplicate file names.
4. Make it difficult for others to identify its contents for security reasons.
5. Efficient management of large amounts of data by making them easier to find.

So, in short, renaming files can help us keep organized, enhance productivity, and make it easier to discover and use the files we need, whether we’re working on a personal or business project.

Files can be renamed in python using the os module. Let us discuss in detail the os module before moving forward.

What is the OS module?

Python’s OS module supports a variety of file system interaction operations, such as creating, renaming, and removing files and directories.

For example, the os.listdir() method, which returns a list of files and directories in a specified directory, is one of the most widely used functions in the OS module. This module also includes the os.path submodule, which offers a number of file path-related functions. The os.chmod() function can be used to change a file’s permissions.

Python’s OS module is a strong tool for interfacing with the operating system and file system. It has a lot of features for working with files and directories, file paths, environment variables, and other low-level features. Developers frequently utilize this module to automate activities, manage files and directories, and execute various other operations on the operating system.

How to Rename a file in Python?

Renaming files in Python is done using os.rename() function in the OS module. It takes two arguments: the current name of the file or directory and the new name.

The following is the fundamental syntax:

os.rename(current_file_name, new_file_name)

It should be noted that the os.rename() function only works with files and folders in the same directory. If you want to rename a file or directory in another directory, include the entire path to the file or directory in both the current and new file name parameters.

Assume you want to rename a file named «old file.txt» to «new file.txt». The following code can be used:

import os os.rename("old_file.txt", "new_file.txt")

You can use a loop to iterate through a list of file names and execute the os.rename() function for each file if you want to rename numerous files at once.

import os old_file_names = ["old_file1.txt", "old_file2.txt", "old_file3.txt"] new_file_names = ["new_file1.txt", "new_file2.txt", "new_file3.txt"] for i in range(len(old_file_names)): os.rename(old_file_names[i], new_file_names[i])

It is vital to remember that if the file you are attempting to rename does not exist, the os.rename() function will throw a FileNotFoundError. To handle this issue, a try-except block can be used to capture the problem and print a message to the user.

import os try: os.rename(old_file_name, new_file_name) except FileNotFoundError: print(f" does not exist.")

Conclusion

When renaming files, it is critical to check whether the new file name already exists or not, as it will replace any existing file with the same name without warning. The Python OS module makes it simple and efficient to rename files.

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How to Rename Files in Python with os.rename()

Being able to work with files is an essential skill for a Python developer of any skill level. In particular, Python can be used to easily rename a single file or multiple files. Being able to automate repetitive tasks, such as renaming files can save you a ton of time. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to rename files with Python using the os.rename() function.

By the end of this tutorial, you’ll have learned the following:

• How to use the Python os.rename() function
• How to rename a single file or multiple files at once
• How to rename files matching a pattern, such as modifying the date pattern in multiple files
• Handling errors when renaming files with Python

Understanding the Python os.rename() Function

Python comes with a built-in function, rename() , as part of the os library. As the name implies, the function is used to rename a file. Before diving into how practical examples, let’s take a look at what makes up the function, including its various parameters:

# Understanding the Python os.rename() Function os.rename( src, dst, *, src_dir_fd=None, dst_dir_fd=None )

From the code block above, you can see that the function accepts four arguments, two of which are optional. Let’s take a look at the parameters of the os.rename() function, including their default arguments:

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