Access a file even if the cwd has changed

Question

The below code works perfectly:

with open('data.txt') as data:
    print(data)

But if I changed the CWD using os.chdir, It won't work

Is there a way in which I can access the file while still being able to change the CWD?

Note: The way the CWD will change will depend on how the user uses it.

Use an absolute path to the file instead of a relative one – jordanm Aug 10 '20 at 15:59 — jordanm, Aug 10 '20 at 15:59
Maybe you can open the file before you change directories. – Barmar Aug 10 '20 at 16:02 — Barmar, Aug 10 '20 at 16:02

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 10 '20 at 16:05

One option is to open the file before you change directories.

with open('data.txt') as data:
    ...
    os.chdir(...)
    ...
    print(data)

Another option is to save the original directory before changing, and use that to form an absolute path:

orig_dir = os.getcwd()
os.chdir(...)
...
with open(os.path.join(orig_dir, 'data.txt')) as data:
    print(data)

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 10 '20 at 16:20

0

i think that is not possible, but i suggest that you if you plan to deploy this, make an error message wherein it tells the user to put the file that you want to open in the same directory as the python script

answered Aug 10 '20 at 16:20

kalimdor18

99
13

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 11 '20 at 02:27

0

thank you for your answers

But I think I have got it myself!

Before I call the os.chdir function, I can do,

from pathlib import Path
datafile = Path('data.txt').absolute()

Then I will get the absolute path in any computer that I run this in.

answered Aug 11 '20 at 02:27

Alan Ninan Thomas

37
6

Access a file even if the cwd has changed

3 Answers3