python search path for data files (non-modules) - text files (*txt)

Question

Base on http://docs.python.org/release/1.5.1p1/tut/searchPath.html

Search Path (sys.path)

A list of strings that specifies the search path for modules. Initialized from the environment variable PYTHONPATH, plus an installation-dependent default.

Its a path to search for modules in import statements.

I am wondering which path is used for search for data files (*txt files etc). For eg. If I do a fs.open(someFile), which all paths python will search for it?

Is it sys.path itself or ?

My confusion is that the docs say sys.path is a search path for modules and data files are not modules.

related: Python : How to access file from different directory — jfs
– jfs, Commented Jun 28, 2013 at 19:38

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-28 19:08:47Z

3

There is no such option. Only the current working directory is searched if no path is specified in the filename.

answered Jun 28, 2013 at 19:08

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

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1 Comment

Joran Beasley Over a year ago

holy cow I had to read that a few times to understand what he was asking... nice work(+1)

armstrhb · Accepted Answer · 2013-06-28 19:11:46Z

1

As Ignacio says, there is no built in variable for this. Either the user or the script itself must supply the directory or directories to search for files.

python script.py /path/to/file/file_to_parse

And our script:

#script.py

import sys
my_file = open(sys.argv[1], 'r')

#act on file

answered Jun 28, 2013 at 19:11

armstrhb

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