Question

I have the following Python script inside a directory called ‘test’ on my Linux desktop:

#!/usr/bin/python

f = open('test.txt','w')
f.write('testing the script')

So it’s /Home/Desktop/test/script.py

If I go inside the directory and type ./script.py it works fine and creates the test.txt file.

However for some reason I am not able to run the script from the Desktop (/Home/Desktop). I tried ./test/script.py, for instance, but didn’t work.

The file permissions on the script are 755, and on the directory 777.

Any help would be appreciated.

Answer 1

You can use os.path.dirname() and __file__ to get absolute paths like this:

#!/usr/bin/python

import os  # We need this module

# Get path of the current dir, then use it to create paths:
CURRENT_DIR = os.path.dirname(__file__)
file_path = os.path.join(CURRENT_DIR, 'test.txt')

# Then work using the absolute paths:
f = open(file_path,'w')
f.write('testing the script')

This way the script will work on files placed only in the same directory as the script, regardless of the place from which you execute it.