PDF: Hello and welcome to Module 4, Chapter 1 of our PDF file!

In this chapter, we
will be discussing organizing files using the shutil module, walking a directory
tree, compressing files with the zipfile module, and working on projects such as
renaming files with American-style dates to European-style dates and backing up a
folder into a ZIP file. We will also cover debugging techniques such as raising
exceptions, getting the traceback as a string, using assertions, and logging with
IDLE's debugger. Let's dive in and learn how to efficiently organize and debug
files in Python!

1. How can I use the shutil module to copy, move, rename, and delete files in my
Python programs?
2. What is the difference between shutil.copy() and shutil.copytree() in Python?
3. Can you provide an example of using the zipfile module to compress files in
Python?

Me: 1. Explain functions of Shutil Module with examples.

PDF: Sure, here are some of the functions of the shutil module in Python along with
examples:

1. shutil.copy(source, destination): This function copies the file at the path

source to the folder at the path destination. It returns a string of the path of
the copied file. For example:

```
import shutil

# Copying a file
shutil.copy('C:/Users/Username/Desktop/file.txt', 'C:/Users/Username/Documents/')

# Copying a folder
shutil.copytree('C:/Users/Username/Desktop/folder', 'C:/Users/Username/Documents/')
```

2. shutil.move(source, destination): This function moves the file or folder at the

path source to the path destination and returns a string of the absolute path of
the new location. If the destination points to a folder, the source file gets moved
into the destination and keeps its current filename. For example:

```
import shutil

# Moving a file
shutil.move('C:/Users/Username/Desktop/file.txt', 'C:/Users/Username/Documents/')

# Moving a folder
shutil.move('C:/Users/Username/Desktop/folder', 'C:/Users/Username/Documents/')
```

3. shutil.rmtree(path): This function deletes a folder and all of its contents. For
example:

```
import shutil

# Deleting a folder and its contents

shutil.rmtree('C:/Users/Username/Documents/folder')
```
4. shutil.make_archive(base_name, format, root_dir): This function creates an
archive file (such as a ZIP or TAR file) containing the contents of the directory
specified by root_dir. The base_name argument specifies the name of the archive
file, while the format argument specifies the format of the archive file (such as
'zip' or 'tar'). For example:

```
import shutil

# Creating a ZIP archive of a folder

shutil.make_archive('C:/Users/Username/Documents/archive', 'zip',
'C:/Users/Username/Documents/folder')
```

These are just a few examples of the functions provided by the shutil module in
Python. There are many more functions available for copying, moving, renaming, and
deleting files and folders.

Me: 2. Explain the following file operations in python with suitable example:
i) Copying files and folders ii) Permanently deleting files and folders.

PDF: Sure, here are some explanations and examples of copying files and folders and
permanently deleting files and folders in Python:

i) Copying files and folders:

The shutil module in Python provides functions for copying files and folders. The
shutil.copy() function can be used to copy a single file from one location to
another, while the shutil.copytree() function can be used to copy an entire folder
and all of its contents.

Here's an example of using shutil.copy() to copy a file:

```
import shutil

# Copy a file from one location to another

shutil.copy('C:/Users/Username/Documents/file.txt', 'C:/Users/Username/Desktop/')
```

And here's an example of using shutil.copytree() to copy a folder:

```
import shutil

# Copy a folder and all of its contents to a new location

shutil.copytree('C:/Users/Username/Documents/folder',
'C:/Users/Username/Desktop/folder_copy')
```

ii) Permanently deleting files and folders:

The os module in Python provides functions for deleting files and folders. The
os.unlink() function can be used to delete a single file, while the os.rmdir()
function can be used to delete an empty folder. To delete a folder and all of its
contents, you can use the shutil.rmtree() function.

Here's an example of using os.unlink() to delete a file:

```
import os

# Delete a file
os.unlink('C:/Users/Username/Documents/file.txt')
```

And here's an example of using shutil.rmtree() to delete a folder and all of its
contents:

```
import shutil

# Delete a folder and all of its contents

shutil.rmtree('C:/Users/Username/Documents/folder')
```

Note that these operations are permanent and cannot be undone, so use them with
caution.

Me: 3. Explain walking a directory tree with example.

PDF: Walking a directory tree in Python refers to the process of traversing through
a directory and its subdirectories to perform operations on the files and folders
within them. The os.walk() function is commonly used for this purpose. Here's an
explanation along with an example:

The os.walk() function generates the file names in a directory tree by walking the
tree either top-down or bottom-up. For each directory in the tree, it yields a 3-
tuple containing the directory path, the subdirectories within that directory, and
the files within that directory.

Here's an example of walking a directory tree using os.walk():

```python
import os

# Walking a directory tree

for folderName, subfolders, filenames in os.walk('C:/Users/Username/Documents'):
print('The current folder is ' + folderName)

# Print subfolders
for subfolder in subfolders:
print('SUBFOLDER OF ' + folderName + ': ' + subfolder)

# Print files
for filename in filenames:
print('FILE INSIDE ' + folderName + ': ' + filename)

print('') # Print an empty line for readability

```

In this example, os.walk() is used to traverse through the

'C:/Users/Username/Documents' directory and its subdirectories. For each directory,
it prints the current folder name, its subfolders, and the files within it.

This allows you to perform operations on the files and folders within the directory
tree, such as renaming, moving, copying, or deleting them.
Overall, os.walk() is a powerful tool for recursively traversing directory trees
and working with the files and folders within them.

Me: 4. How do you get file size for uncompressed and compressed files/folders.

PDF: To get the file size for uncompressed and compressed files/folders, you can
use the zipfile module in Python. Here's an explanation along with an example:

The zipfile module provides a ZipFile class that can be used to create, read, and
extract ZIP files. The ZipFile class has a getinfo() method that returns a ZipInfo
object containing information about a specific file within the ZIP file, including
its original file size and compressed file size.

Here's an example of getting the file size for an uncompressed and compressed file
using the zipfile module:

```python
import zipfile

# Open the ZIP file

with zipfile.ZipFile('example.zip', 'r') as zip_file:
# Get information about the file within the ZIP file
file_info = zip_file.getinfo('example.txt')

# Print the original file size

print('Original file size: ' + str(file_info.file_size) + ' bytes')

# Print the compressed file size

print('Compressed file size: ' + str(file_info.compress_size) + ' bytes')
```

In this example, we open the 'example.zip' file using the ZipFile class and get
information about the 'example.txt' file within it using the getinfo() method. We
then print the original file size and compressed file size using the file_size and
compress_size attributes of the ZipInfo object.

Note that the file size for compressed files will generally be smaller than the
file size for uncompressed files, since compression reduces the amount of space
needed to store the file.

Me: 5. List out the benefits of compressing file? Also explain reading of a
zip file with an example.

PDF: Benefits of compressing files:

1. Reduced storage space: Compressing files reduces their size, allowing you to
store more data in the same amount of space.

2. Faster file transfer: Compressed files can be transferred over networks or the
internet more quickly, as they require less bandwidth.

3. Reduced backup size: Compressing files before backing them up can save storage
space and reduce backup times.

4. Organization: Compressing multiple files into a single archive can help in

organizing and managing related files.

5. Security: Compressed files can be encrypted, providing an additional layer of

security for sensitive data.
Reading a zip file in Python:

To read the contents of a ZIP file in Python, you can use the zipfile module. The
following example demonstrates how to read the contents of a ZIP file:

```python
import zipfile

# Create a ZipFile object to read the contents of the ZIP file

with zipfile.ZipFile('example.zip', 'r') as zip_file:
# Get a list of all files and folders in the ZIP file
file_list = zip_file.namelist()
print('Contents of the ZIP file:')
for file in file_list:
print(file)

# Extract a specific file from the ZIP file

zip_file.extract('example.txt', 'extracted_files')
```

In this example, we use the ZipFile class to open the 'example.zip' file in read
mode. We then use the namelist() method to get a list of all files and folders in
the ZIP file and print them. Finally, we use the extract() method to extract the
'example.txt' file from the ZIP file into a folder named 'extracted_files'.

This demonstrates how to read the contents of a ZIP file and extract specific files
from it using the zipfile module in Python.

Me: 6. What is meant by compressing files? Explain reading, extracting and

creating ZIP files with code snippet.

PDF: Compressing files refers to the process of reducing the size of one or more
files by encoding them in a way that takes up less space. This can be done using
various compression algorithms, such as the deflate algorithm used in ZIP files.

Reading ZIP files:

To read the contents of a ZIP file in Python, you can use the zipfile module. The
following code snippet demonstrates how to read the contents of a ZIP file:

```python
import zipfile

# Open the ZIP file

with zipfile.ZipFile('example.zip', 'r') as zip_file:
# Get a list of all files and folders in the ZIP file
file_list = zip_file.namelist()
print('Contents of the ZIP file:')
for file in file_list:
print(file)

# Extract a specific file from the ZIP file

zip_file.extract('example.txt', 'extracted_files')
```

In this example, we use the ZipFile class to open the 'example.zip' file in read
mode. We then use the namelist() method to get a list of all files and folders in
the ZIP file and print them. Finally, we use the extract() method to extract the
'example.txt' file from the ZIP file into a folder named 'extracted_files'.

Extracting ZIP files:

To extract the contents of a ZIP file in Python, you can use the extractall()
method of the ZipFile class. The following code snippet demonstrates how to extract
the contents of a ZIP file:

```python
import zipfile

# Open the ZIP file

with zipfile.ZipFile('example.zip', 'r') as zip_file:
# Extract all files and folders from the ZIP file
zip_file.extractall('extracted_files')
```

In this example, we use the ZipFile class to open the 'example.zip' file in read
mode. We then use the extractall() method to extract all files and folders from the
ZIP file into a folder named 'extracted_files'.

Creating ZIP files:

To create a ZIP file in Python, you can use the ZipFile class in write mode. The
following code snippet demonstrates how to create a ZIP file:

```python
import zipfile

# Create a new ZIP file

with zipfile.ZipFile('new.zip', 'w') as zip_file:
# Add a file to the ZIP file
zip_file.write('example.txt')
```

In this example, we use the ZipFile class to create a new ZIP file named 'new.zip'
in write mode. We then use the write() method to add the 'example.txt' file to the
ZIP file.

Overall, the zipfile module in Python provides a convenient way to read, extract,
and create ZIP files.

Me: 7. Briefly explain assertions and raising a exception.

PDF: Assertions and raising exceptions are two ways to handle errors in Python.

Assertions are used to check that certain conditions are true during the execution
of a program. If an assertion fails, an AssertionError is raised. Assertions are
typically used to check for programmer errors, rather than user errors. Here's an
example of using an assertion:

```python
x = 5
assert x == 5, 'x should be 5'
```

In this example, we use the assert statement to check that the value of x is 5. If
the assertion fails (i.e., if x is not equal to 5), an AssertionError is raised
with the message 'x should be 5'.
Raising exceptions is another way to handle errors in Python. Exceptions are used
to signal that an error has occurred during the execution of a program. When an
exception is raised, the program stops executing and the exception is propagated up
the call stack until it is handled by an exception handler. Here's an example of
raising an exception:

```python
x = 5
if x < 10:
raise ValueError('x should be greater than or equal to 10')
```

In this example, we use the raise statement to raise a ValueError if the value of x
is less than 10. When the exception is raised, the program stops executing and the
ValueError is propagated up the call stack until it is handled by an exception
handler.

In summary, assertions are used to check for programmer errors during the execution
of a program, while exceptions are used to signal that an error has occurred and
stop the execution of a program until the error is handled.

Me: 8. What is logging? How this would be used to debug the python program?
Explain with code.

PDF: Logging is a built-in Python module that provides a flexible and powerful way
to record program events for debugging and diagnostic purposes. It allows
developers to create log messages that provide information about the program's
execution, including errors, warnings, and informational messages.

Logging can be used to debug Python programs by providing a detailed record of the
program's execution, including the sequence of events, variable values, and error
messages. This can help developers identify and fix issues in their code.

Here's an example of how logging can be used to debug a Python program:

```python
import logging

# Configure the logging module

logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(asctime)s - %(levelname)s - %
(message)s')

def factorial(n):
logging.debug('Start of factorial(%s)' % n)
total = 1
for i in range(1, n + 1):
total *= i
logging.debug('i is %s, total is %s' % (i, total))
logging.debug('End of factorial(%s)' % n)
return total

# Call the factorial function

result = factorial(5)
logging.debug('Result: %s' % result)
```

In this example, we first import the logging module and configure it using the
basicConfig() function. We set the logging level to DEBUG, which means that all log
messages of level DEBUG and higher will be recorded. We also specify a format for
the log messages, including the timestamp, log level, and message.

Next, we define a factorial() function that calculates the factorial of a number.

Inside the function, we use logging.debug() to record the start and end of the
function, as well as the value of the variables i and total during each iteration
of the loop.

Finally, we call the factorial() function with an input of 5 and record the result
using logging.debug().

When the program is executed, the log messages will be displayed, providing a
detailed record of the program's execution. This can help in identifying any issues
or unexpected behavior in the code.

Overall, logging is a powerful tool for debugging Python programs, as it allows

developers to create detailed records of the program's execution and identify
issues in the code.

Me: 9. What are logging levels? Explain.

PDF: Logging levels in Python provide a way to categorize log messages by their
importance or severity. There are five standard logging levels, each representing a
different level of importance or severity of the logged event. These levels allow
developers to control which types of messages are recorded based on their
significance.

The five standard logging levels in Python, in increasing order of severity, are:

1. DEBUG: Detailed information, typically used for diagnostic purposes. This is the
lowest logging level and is used for recording detailed information about the
program's execution, such as variable values and function calls.

2. INFO: Confirmation that things are working as expected. This level is used to
record general information about the program's execution, such as startup messages
and configuration settings.

3. WARNING: An indication that something unexpected happened, or indicative of some

problem in the near future (e.g., 'disk space low'). This level is used to record
warning messages about potential issues or unexpected behavior in the program.

4. ERROR: An indication that a serious problem occurred, such as an error that

caused the program to fail to perform some function. This level is used to record
error messages that indicate a failure or problem in the program's execution.

5. CRITICAL: A serious error that indicates that the program itself may be unable
to continue running. This is the highest logging level and is used to record
critical error messages that indicate a severe failure in the program.

By using these logging levels, developers can control the types of messages that
are recorded based on their importance, allowing for better management and analysis
of log data.

For example, a developer may choose to record DEBUG, INFO, and WARNING messages
during normal program execution, but only record ERROR and CRITICAL messages when a
serious issue or failure occurs.

Overall, logging levels provide a way to categorize log messages based on their
importance or severity, allowing for better control and management of log data.
Me: 10. List out the benefits of using logging module with an example.

PDF: The logging module in Python offers several benefits for developers,
including:

1. **Flexible Output**: The logging module allows developers to direct log messages
to various destinations such as the console, files, or external services, providing
flexibility in managing log data.

2. **Granular Control**: Developers can specify different logging levels for

different parts of the program, allowing them to control the verbosity of log
messages based on their importance.

3. **Diagnostic Information**: Logging provides a detailed record of the program's

execution, including variable values, function calls, and error messages, which can
be invaluable for diagnosing issues and understanding the program's behavior.

4. **Runtime Monitoring**: By using the logging module, developers can monitor the
behavior of a running program in real-time, enabling them to identify and address
issues as they occur.

5. **Production Debugging**: Logging allows developers to capture and analyze log

data from production environments, aiding in the identification and resolution of
issues that may not be reproducible in development environments.

Example:
```python
import logging

# Configure the logging module

logging.basicConfig(filename='app.log', level=logging.DEBUG, format='%(asctime)s -
%(levelname)s - %(message)s')

def divide(x, y):

try:
result = x / y
except ZeroDivisionError:
logging.exception('Division by zero error')
else:
logging.info(f'Division result: {result}')

# Call the divide function

divide(10, 2)
divide(10, 0)
```

In this example, the logging module is used to capture log messages to a file
('app.log') with a specified format. The divide function calculates the result of
dividing two numbers and logs the result using different logging levels. If a
ZeroDivisionError occurs, an exception message is logged. This allows developers to
capture diagnostic information about the program's execution, including successful
operations and error conditions, which can be useful for debugging and monitoring
the program's behavior.