Comparing and Renaming Subfolders in Python

Python’s extensive standard library includes tools for effectively managing and manipulating file system paths. In this article, we’ll explore a Python script designed to compare subfolders in two different folders and rename matched subfolders in one of these folders. This script is particularly useful in situations where you need to synchronize or manage directories in a structured manner.

The Python Script

Importing Required Module

import os

The os module in Python provides a way of using operating system-dependent functionality. It allows you to interface with the underlying operating system that Python is running on – be it Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Defining the Main Function

def main():
    # Your code here

The main function serves as the entry point of our script.

Specifying the Folder Paths

main_folder_a = '/Folder A'
main_folder_b = '/Folder B'

We define two variables, main_folder_a and main_folder_b, which store the paths to the main folders we are comparing.

Getting Subfolders

subfolders_a = [d for d in os.listdir(main_folder_a) if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(main_folder_a, d))]
subfolders_b = [d for d in os.listdir(main_folder_b) if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(main_folder_b, d))]

This section of the script retrieves the names of subfolders within each main folder. The os.listdir() function lists everything in the directory (files and subfolders), and os.path.isdir() checks if the listed item is a directory.

Comparing and Renaming Subfolders

for subfolder in subfolders_a:
    if subfolder in subfolders_b:
        subfolder_path_b = os.path.join(main_folder_b, subfolder)
        new_name = subfolder_path_b + "_converted"
        os.rename(subfolder_path_b, new_name)
        print(f"Renamed {subfolder_path_b} to {new_name}")

In this loop, each subfolder in main_folder_a is checked against subfolders in main_folder_b. If a matching subfolder is found, it is renamed in main_folder_b by appending _converted to its name. The os.rename() function is used for renaming.

Executing the Script

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

This conditional statement checks if the script is being run directly (not imported) and then calls the main function.

Conclusion

This script demonstrates Python’s capability to interact with the file system, offering a practical solution for comparing and renaming directories. Such scripts can be incredibly useful for tasks like organizing files, automated backups, or synchronizing folders across different locations.

Python’s straightforward syntax and powerful libraries make it an ideal choice for file and directory management tasks, streamlining processes that would otherwise be tedious and time-consuming.