Copy Files Using Python

Question

I'm trying to copy files from my current directory to a newly created folder in my current directory. The folder name is the exact date and time the script runs using the time module. I'm trying to use the shutil module because that's what everyone seems to say is the best for copying files from one place to another, but I keep getting a permission error. I've pasted the code and the error below. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

import os
import time
from shutil import copyfile

oldir = os.getcwd()
print(oldir)
timestr = time.strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
print('timestr: {}'.format(timestr))
newdir = os.path.join(oldir + "\\" + timestr)
print(newdir)


for filename in os.listdir(os.getcwd()):
    if filename.startswith("green"):
        print (filename)
        copyfile(oldir, newdir)

error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "\\directory\directory\Testing1.py", line 16, in <module>
    copyfile(oldir, newdir)
  File "C:\Python36-32\lib\shutil.py", line 120, in copyfile
    with open(src, 'rb') as fsrc:
PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: '\\\\directory\\directory'

That's because instead of copying a file you try to copy the current directory itself into its subdirectory. — Błotosmętek
– Błotosmętek, Commented Aug 29, 2017 at 21:32

Bigbob556677 · Accepted Answer · 2017-08-29 21:37:42Z

4

You need to first create the directory and then when you make the copy, use the entire path to both the start file and then end file

import os
import time
from shutil import copyfile

oldir = os.getcwd()
print(oldir)
timestr = time.strftime("%Y%m%d-%H%M%S")
print('timestr: {}'.format(timestr))
newdir = os.path.join(oldir + "\\" + timestr)
print(newdir)

if not os.path.exists(newdir):
    os.makedirs(newdir)

for filename in os.listdir(os.getcwd()):
    if filename.startswith("green"):
        print (filename)
        copyfile(oldir+"\\"+filename, newdir + "\\" + filename)

answered Aug 29, 2017 at 21:37

Bigbob556677

2,1981 gold badge17 silver badges50 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

aspo Over a year ago

As pointed out, you cannot copy without checking that the directory exists or you create it first @Matt

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Copy Files Using Python

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related