python - open() not working with path names

Question

Python 2.7.1, using open(), and having trouble with append mode and pathname instead of filename.

It says open() works as stdio fopen(), and that func when put into append ("a") says it's supposed to create the file if it doesn't exist.

# this works in python, creating file.txt if it doesnt exist
>>> fp = open ("file.txt", "a")

# this fails to create, but works if the file is already extant
>>> fp = open ("~/file.txt", "a")
IOError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: '~/file.txt'

The problem is being a pathname, not a filename. What am I doing anything wrong?

edit: Linux

Fred Nurk · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-21 01:37:02Z

10

Check out os.path.expanduser():

os.path.expanduser(path)

On Unix and Windows, return the argument with an initial component of ~ or ~user replaced by that user‘s home directory.

A lot of things don't like ~ in paths and this will fix it.

edited May 21, 2011 at 1:37

Fred Nurk

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answered May 21, 2011 at 0:19

Brendan Long

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1 Comment

Aroyo Over a year ago

I have realised the problem. It is /root not /home/root. I realised when I looked at the os.path.expanduser() expansion. It was a bit of a facepalm moment - when it did not work I replaced it with /home/root. LOL. Thanks.

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