How to open every file in a folder

Os

You can list all files in the current directory using os.listdir:

import os
for filename in os.listdir(os.getcwd()):
   with open(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), filename), 'r') as f: # open in readonly mode
      # do your stuff

Glob

Or you can list only some files, depending on the file pattern using the glob module:

import os, glob
for filename in glob.glob('*.txt'):
   with open(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), filename), 'r') as f: # open in readonly mode
      # do your stuff

It doesn't have to be the current directory you can list them in any path you want:

import os, glob
path = '/some/path/to/file'
for filename in glob.glob(os.path.join(path, '*.txt')):
   with open(os.path.join(os.getcwd(), filename), 'r') as f: # open in readonly mode
      # do your stuff

Pipe

Or you can even use the pipe as you specified using fileinput

import fileinput
for line in fileinput.input():
    # do your stuff

And you can then use it with piping:

ls -1 | python parse.py

You can actually just use os module to do both:

  1. list all files in a folder
  2. sort files by file type, file name etc.

Here's a simple example:

import os #os module imported here
location = os.getcwd() # get present working directory location here
counter = 0 #keep a count of all files found
csvfiles = [] #list to store all csv files found at location
filebeginwithhello = [] # list to keep all files that begin with 'hello'
otherfiles = [] #list to keep any other file that do not match the criteria

for file in os.listdir(location):
    try:
        if file.endswith(".csv"):
            print "csv file found:\t", file
            csvfiles.append(str(file))
            counter = counter+1

        elif file.startswith("hello") and file.endswith(".csv"): #because some files may start with hello and also be a csv file
            print "csv file found:\t", file
            csvfiles.append(str(file))
            counter = counter+1

        elif file.startswith("hello"):
            print "hello files found: \t", file
            filebeginwithhello.append(file)
            counter = counter+1

        else:
            otherfiles.append(file)
            counter = counter+1
    except Exception as e:
        raise e
        print "No files found here!"

print "Total files found:\t", counter

Now you have not only listed all the files in a folder but also have them (optionally) sorted by starting name, file type and others. Just now iterate over each list and do your stuff.


I was looking for this answer:

import os,glob
folder_path = '/some/path/to/file'
for filename in glob.glob(os.path.join(folder_path, '*.htm')):
  with open(filename, 'r') as f:
    text = f.read()
    print (filename)
    print (len(text))

you can choose as well '*.txt' or other ends of your filename


You should try using os.walk.

import os

yourpath = 'path'

for root, dirs, files in os.walk(yourpath, topdown=False):
    for name in files:
        print(os.path.join(root, name))
        stuff
    for name in dirs:
        print(os.path.join(root, name))
        stuff