Rename multiple files in a directory in Python [du

Question

This question already has an answer here:

• How to rename a file using Python 10 answers
• Rename multiple files in Python 2 answers

I'm trying to rename some files in a directory using Python.

Say I have a file called CHEESE_CHEESE_TYPE.*** and want to remove CHEESE_ so my resulting filename would be CHEESE_TYPE

I'm trying to use the os.path.split but it's not working properly. I have also considered using string manipulations, but have not been successful with that either.

Answer 1

This works for me.

import os
for afile in os.listdir('.'):
    filename, file_extension = os.path.splitext(afile)
    if not file_extension == '.xyz':
        os.rename(afile, filename + '.abc')

Answer 2

Use os.rename(src, dst) to rename or move a file or a directory.

$ ls
cheese_cheese_type.bar  cheese_cheese_type.foo
$ python
>>> import os
>>> for filename in os.listdir("."):
...  if filename.startswith("cheese_"):
...    os.rename(filename, filename[7:])
... 
>>> 
$ ls
cheese_type.bar  cheese_type.foo

Answer 3

Here's a script based on your newest comment.

#!/usr/bin/env python
from os import rename, listdir

badprefix = "cheese_"
fnames = listdir('.')

for fname in fnames:
    if fname.startswith(badprefix*2):
        rename(fname, fname.replace(badprefix, '', 1))