a question on directories

[someguy9200]

I have windows xp and I have a few questions about directories. How do you make directories and how do you set them as your current directory. I need to know how to do this so I can use scripts on python.

[bartonc]

There is a two library modules called os and ospath with lots of functions to make sure that strings look like valid path names for whatever platform you are on and functions for getting and setting the current working directory. Python 2.4 docs sections 6.1 and 6.2.

[someguy9200]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

[bartonc]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

The Python documentation is something that you MUST be able to put your hands on and is the FIRST place to start learning. If your system was properly installed, there in Start->Programs->Python 2.4->Python Manuals. The first page is an index that starts with a tutorial (start here). Then comes the Global Module Index. Follow this link and scroll down to os and ospath and begin your study.

[bvdet]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

I wrote some applications that read the current working directory and create a directory if it does not exist. These examples may give you an idea about what Barton was talking about:

# snip
    import os
    from macrolib.FileDefaults import import_data, export_data, job_Defaults_path, data_Defaults_path, check_Defaults_dir
    # system path for default values files
    # auto save path
    default_file_path = data_Defaults_path()
    # user save path
    job_default_file_path = os.path.join(job_Defaults_path(), "Beam_BPL_Pourstop")
    # default values file name
    def_file = "Beam_BPL_Pourstop_v1_12.txt"
    script_name = "Beam_BPL_Pourstop_v1.12.py"
    # default to enable or disable the automatic importing and exporting of dialog dictionary variables
    # ("Enable", "Disable")
    enable_default_import_export = "Enable"
    """
        The saving and importing of default files requires that a subdirectory 'Defaults' exists.
        The 'Defaults' directory for automatic import/export is returned by 'data_Defaults_path()' ('SDS/2 root data/macro/Defaults)
        The 'Defaults' directory for user import/export is returned by 'job_Defaults_path()'('job directory'/macro/Defaults')
    """
    # check if automatic defaults directory exists
    if enable_default_import_export == "Enable":
        if not check_Defaults_dir(default_file_path):
            Warning("Edit the parametric file and change variable 'enable_default_import_export' value to 'Disable'")
            
    # check if user defaults directory exists
    if not check_Defaults_dir(job_default_file_path):
        job_default_file_path = default_file_path
    
    # dialog box image file path and names
    image_path = os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "macro", "Images")
    image_name = os.path.join(image_path, "Beam_BPL_Pourstop.gif")
# snip

# Create the 'Defaults' directory if it does not exist
# Example: 'C:\SDS2_7.0\jobs\607_Great_Wolf\macro' is an existing path
# Make directory 'C:\SDS2_7.0\jobs\607_Great_Wolf\macro\Defaults'
# Return 1 if directory exists or directory creation is successful

import os
import macrolib.pickle

def check_Defaults_dir(file_path):
    from param import Warning, yes_or_no
    if not os.path.isdir(file_path):
        if yes_or_no("The directory path does not exist. Do you want to create directory '%s'?" % (file_path)):
            try:
                os.makedirs(file_path)
                return True
            except OSError, e:
                Warning("Could not create directory %s: %s" % (file_path, e))
                return False
        else:
            return False
    return True
    
###############################################################################
# return the path to the job default values directory
# format - 'SDS/2 root data'\jobs\'name of job'\macro\Defaults
def job_Defaults_path():
    from job import JobName
    return os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "jobs", JobName(), "macro", "Defaults")

###############################################################################
# return the path to the data default values directory
# format - 'SDS/2 root data'\macro\Defaults
def data_Defaults_path():
    return os.path.join(os.getcwd(), "macro", "Defaults")

You can set the current working directory with os.chdir(path).

[bartonc]

I have no idea what you are talking about.

Are you ask about how to create directories in xp?