FILE HANDLING

✔ INTRODUCTION
✔ DATA FILES
✔ OPENING AND CLOSING FILES
✔ READING AND WRITING FILES
✔ STANDARD INPUT, OUTPUT AND ERROR
STREAMS
Introductio
n
▪ FILE HANDLING is a mechanism by which we
can read data of disk files in python program or
write back data from python program to disk
files.
▪ So far in our python program the standard input
in coming from keyboard an output is going to
monitor i.e. no where data is stored permanent
and entered data is present as long as program
is running BUT file handling allows us to store
data entered through python program
permanently in disk file and later on we can read
back the data
DATA
FILES
▪ It contains data pertaining to a specific
application, for later use. The data files can
be stored in two ways –
▪ Text File
▪ Binary File
Text
File
▪ Text file stores information in ASCII OR
UNICODE character. In text file everything will
be stored as a character for example if data is
“computer” then it will take 8 bytes and if the
data is floating value like 11237.9876 it will take
10 bytes.
▪ In text file each like is terminated by special
character called EOL. In text file some
translation takes place when this EOL character
is read or written. In python EOL is ‘\n’ or ‘\r’ or
combination of both
Binary
files
▪ It stores the information in the same format
as in the memory i.e. data is stored according
to its data type so no translation occurs.
▪ In binary file there is no delimiter for a new
line
▪ Binary files are faster and easier for a
program to read and write than text files.
▪ Data in binary files cannot be directly read, it
can be read only through python program for
the same.
Steps in Data File
Handling
1. OPENING FILE
We should first open the file for read or write by
specifying the name of file and mode.
2. PERFORMING READ/WRITE
Once the file is opened now we can either read or
write for which file is opened using various functions
available
3. CLOSING FILE
After performing operation we must close the file
and release the file for other application to use it,
Opening
File
▪ File can be opened for either – read, write,
append.
SYNTAX:
file_object = open(filename)
Or
file_object = open(filename,mode)

** default mode is “read”

Opening
File
myfile = open(“story.txt”)
here disk file “story.txt” is loaded in
memory and its reference is linked to “myfile”
object, now python program will access “story.
txt” through “myfile” object.
here “story.txt” is present in the same
folder where .py file is stored otherwise if disk
file to work is in another folder we have to give
full path.
Opening
File
myfile = open(“article.txt”,”r”)
here “r” is for read (although it is by default, other
options are “w” for write, “a” for append)

myfile = open(“d:\\mydata\\poem.txt”,”r”)
here we are accessing “poem.txt” file stored in
separate location i.e. d:\mydata folder.
at the time of giving path of file we must use double
backslash(\\) in place of single backslash because in python
single slash is used for escape character and it may cause
problem like if the folder name is “nitin” and we provide path
as d:\nitin\poem.txt then in \nitin “\n” will become escape
character for new line, SO ALWAYS USE DOUBLE
BACKSLASH IN PATH
Opening
File
myfile = open(“d:\\mydata\\poem.txt”,”r”)
another solution of double backslash is
using “r” before the path making the string
as raw string i.e. no special meaning
attached to any character as:
myfile = open(r“d:\mydata\poem.txt”,”r”)
File
Handle
myfile = open(r“d:\mydata\poem.txt”,”r”)

In the above example “myfile” is the file object

or file handle or file pointer holding the
reference of disk file. In python we will access
and manipulate the disk file through this file
handle only.
File Access
Mode
Text
File
Binary File
Mode
Description Notes

Mode
‘r’ ‘rb’ Read only File must exists, otherwise Python raises
I/O errors
‘w’ ‘wb’ Write only If file not exists, file is created
If file exists, python will truncate existing
data and overwrite the file.
‘a’ ‘ab’ Append File is in write mode only, new data will
be added to the end of existing data i.e.
no overwriting. If file not exists it is
created
‘r+’ ‘r+b’ or ‘rb+’ Read and write File must exists otherwise error is raised
Both reading and writing can take place
w+ ‘w+b’ or ‘wb+’ Write and read File is created if not exists, if exists data
will be truncated, both read and write
allowed
‘a+’ ‘a+b’ or ‘ab+’ Write and read Same as above but previous content will
VINOD K UMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &
SAC HIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS) , KV NO.1 TEZPUR
be retained and both read and write.
Closing
file
▪ As reference of disk file is stored in file
handle so to close we must call the close()
function through the file handle and release
the file.

myfile.close()

Note: open function is built-in function used

standalone while close() must be called through file
handle
Reading from
File
▪ To read from file python provide many functions
like :
▪ Filehandle.read([n]) : reads and return n bytes,
if n is not specified it reads entire file.
▪ Filehandle.readline([n]) : reads a line of input.
If n is specified reads at most n bytes. Read
bytes in the form of string ending with line
character or blank string if no more bytes are
left for reading.
▪ Filehandle.readlines(): reads all lines and
returns them in a list
 Example-1:
read()
SAMPLE FILE
 Example-2:
read()
SAMPLE FILE
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Example-3:
readline()
SAMPLE FILE

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SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
 for more updates visit: www.python4csip.com
Example-3:
readline()
SAMPLE FILE

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE DIFFERENCE IN OUTPUT FROM PREVIOUS OUPUT?

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &
SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-4: reading line bfoyr mlorie nupedateussviisitn:
w ww .p yt ho n4 c sip .c om
gSAMPLE
r eFILE
a d l i n e ()

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-5: reading line bfoyr mlorie nupedateussviisitn:
SAMPLE FILE
wgwwf.poyt rhon4lcosip o.c pom

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-6: Calculating size offor mFoireleupdwatiets hvisita:
nwwdw.wpyithtohno4custip.cEomOL and blank lines
SAMPLE FILE
 f or mo re updates visit: www.
Example-7:
SAMPLE FILE
readline s ( )
python4csip.com

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-8 & 9: counting size foorfmofreilupedsateis nvisitb:
ywwtwe.spythaonnd4csnipo.c.om
of
lines
SAMPLE FILE

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
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Questions
…

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
 for more updates visit: www.python4csip.com

Writing onto
▪ After read operation, let us take an
files
example of how to write data in disk files.
Python provides functions:
write ()
writelines()
▪ The above functions are called by the file
handle to write desired content.
Name Syntax Description
write() Filehandle.write(str1) Writes string str1 to file referenced
by filehandle
Writelines() Filehandle.writelines(L) Writes all string in List L as lines to
file referenced by filehandle.
VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &
SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-1 write() using “w”
: mode
 for more updates visit: www.python4csip.com

Example-1 write() using “w”

: mode

Lets run the

same
program
again
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SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
 for more updates visit: www.python4csip.com

Example-1 write() using “w”

: mode

Now we can observe that while writing data to file using “w” mode the previous
content of existing file will be overwritten and new content will be saved.

If we want to add new data without overwriting the previous content then we
should write using “a” mode i.e. append mode.

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
 for more updates visit: www.python4csip.com

Example-2 write() using “a”

: mode

New content is
added after
previous content
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SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
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Example-3 using
: writelines()

VINOD KUMAR VERMA, PGT(CS), KV OEF KANPUR &

SACHIN BHARDWAJ, PGT(CS), KV NO.1 TEZPUR
Example-4: Writing String as a
record to file
Example-4: To copy the content of
one file to another file
flush()
function
▪ When we write any data to file, python hold
everything in buffer (temporary memory)
and pushes it onto actual file later. If you
want to force Python to write the content of
buffer onto storage, you can use flush()
function.
▪ Python automatically flushes the files when
closing them i.e. it will be implicitly called by
the close(), BUT if you want to flush before
closing any file you can use flush()
Example: working of Nothing is
flush() in the file
temp.txt
Without flush()

When you run the above code, program will stopped at “Press any key”, for
time being don’t press any key and go to folder where file “temp.txt” is
created an open it to see what is in the file till now
NOW PRESS ANY KEY….

Now content is stored,

because of close()
function contents are
flushed and

pushed in file
Example: working of All contents
before
flush()
With flush()
flush() are
present in
file

When you run the above code, program will stopped at “Press any key”, for
time being don’t press any key and go to folder where file “temp.txt” is
created an open it to see what is in the file till now
NOW PRESS ANY KEY….

Rest of the content is

written because of close(),
contents are flushed and

pushed in file.
Removing whitespaces after
reading from file
▪ read() and readline() reads data from file and
return it in the form of string and readlines()
returns data in the form of list.
▪ All these read function also read leading and
trailing whitespaces, new line characters. If you
want to remove these characters you can use
functions
strip() : removes the given character from both ends.
lstrip(): removes given character from left end
rstrip(): removes given character from right end
Example: strip(),
lstrip(), rstrip()
File
Pointer
▪ Every file maintains a file pointer which tells
the current position in the file where reading
and writing operation will take.
▪ When we perform any read/write operation
two things happens:
The operation at the current position of file pointer
File pointer advances by the specified number of
bytes.
Exampl
e
myfile = open(“ipl.txt”,”r”)

File pointer will be by default at first position i.e. first character

ch = myfile.read(1)
ch will store first character i.e. first character is consumed, and file pointer will
move to next character
File Modes and Opening
position of file pointer
FILE MODE OPENING POSITION
r, r+, rb, rb+, r+b Beginning of file
w, w+, wb, wb+, w+b Beginning of file (overwrites the file if
file already exists
a, ab, a+, ab+, a+b At the end of file if file exists otherwise
creates a new file
Standard INPUT, OUTPUT and ERROR
STREAM

▪ Standard Input : Keyboard

▪ Standard : Monitor
Output : Monitor
▪ Standard error
▪ Standard Input devices(stdin) reads from
keyboard
▪ Standard output devices(stdout) display
output on monitor
▪ Standard error devices(stderr) same as stdout
but normally for errors only.
Standard INPUT, OUTPUT and ERROR
STREAM
▪ The standard devices are implemented as
files called standard streams in Python and
we can use them by using sys module.
▪ After importing sys module we can use
standard streams stdin, stdout, stderr
“with”
statement
▪ Python’s “with” statement for file handling is
very handy when you have two related
operations which you would like to execute as
a pair, with a block of code in between:
with open(filename[, mode]) as filehandle:
file_manipulation_statement
▪ The advantage of “with” is it will automatically
close the file after nested block of code. It
guarantees to close the file how nested block
exits even if any run time error occurs
Exampl
e
Binary file
operations
▪ If we want to write a structure such as list or
dictionary to a file and read it subsequently
we need to use the Python module pickle.
Pickling is the process of converting
structure to a byte stream before writing to
a file and while reading the content of file a
reverse process called Unpickling is used to
convert the byte stream back to the original
format.
Steps to perform binary file
operations

▪ First we need to import the module called

pickle.
▪ This module provides 2 main functions:
dump() : to write the object in file which is

◾
loaded in binary mode
Syntax : dump(object_to_write, filehandle)

load() : dumped data can be read from file using

◾
load() i.e. it is used to read object from pickle file.
Syntax: object = load(filehandle)
Example:
dump()

See the content is some

kind of encrypted format,
and it is not in complete
readable
form
Example:
load()
Absolute Vs Relative
▪ To understand PATH we must be familiar
PATH
with the terms: DRIVE, FOLDER/
DIRECTORY, FILES.
▪ Our hard disk is logically divided into many
parts called DRIVES like C DRIVE, D DRIVE
etc.
Absolute Vs Relative
▪ The drive is the main container in which
PATH
we put everything to store.
▪ The naming format is : DRIVE_LETTER:
▪ For e.g. C: , D:
▪ Drive is also known as ROOT DIRECTORY.
▪ Drive contains Folder and Files.
▪ Folder contains sub-folders or files
▪ Files are the actual data container.
Absolute Vs Relative
PATH DRIVE
FOLDER
 DRIVE/FOLDER/FILE
HIERARCHY
C:\
DRIV E

SALES IT HR PROD
FOLDE R FOLDE R FOLDE R FOLDE R

2018 2019 MEMBERS.DOC NOIDA DELHI

FOLDE R FOLDE R FOLDE R FOLDE R FOLDE R

REVENUE.TXT SHEET.XLS SEC_8.XLS SEC_12.PPT

FILE FILE FILE FILE
Absolute
Path
▪ Absolute path is the full address of any file or
folder from the Drive i.e. from ROOT
FOLDER. It is like:
Drive_Name:\Folder\Folder…\filename
▪ For e.g. the Absolute of file
path REVENUE.TXT will be
C:\SALES\2018\REVENUE.TXT
▪ Absolute path of SEC_12.PPT is
C:\PROD\NOIDA\Sec_12.ppt
Relative
Path
▪ Relative Path is the location of file/folder
from the current folder. To use Relative
path special symbols are:
Single Dot ( . ) : single dot ( . ) refers to current
folder.
Double Dot ( .. ) : double dot ( .. ) refers to
parent folder
Backslash ( \ ) : first backslash before (.) and
double dot( .. ) refers to ROOT folder.
 Relative
addressing
Current working directory
C:\
DRIVE

SALES IT HR PROD
FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER

2018 2019 MEMBERS.DOC NOIDA DELHI

FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER

REVENUE.TXT SHEET.XLS SEC_8.XLS SEC_12.PPT

FILE FILE FILE FILE

SUPPOSE CURRENT WORKING DIRECTORY IS : SALES

WE WANT TO ACCESS SHEET.XLS FILE, THEN RELATIVE ADDRESS WILL
BE

.\2019\SHEET.XLS
 Relative
Current
addressing working
C:\
directory
DRIVE

SALES IT HR PROD
FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER

2018 2019 MEMBERS.DOC NOIDA DELHI

FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER FOLDER

REVENUE.TXT SHEET.XLS SEC_8.XLS SEC_12.PPT

FILE FILE FILE FILE

SUPPOSE CURRENT WORKING DIRECTORY IS : DELHI

WE WANT TO ACCESS SEC_8.XLS FILE, THEN RELATIVE ADDRESS WILL
BE

..\NOIDA\SEC_8.XLS
Getting name of current
working directory
import os
pwd = os.getcwd()
print("Current Directory :",pwd)