Using distutils.dir_util.copy_tree to Ignore Files: A Detailed Guide
When working with Python’s distutils package, the copy_tree function is a powerful tool for copying directories and their contents. However, there may be instances where you want to exclude certain files from being copied. This is where the ignore parameter comes into play. In this article, I’ll delve into the details of using distutils.dir_util.copy_tree to ignore files, covering various aspects such as syntax, usage, and practical examples.
Understanding the copy_tree Function
The copy_tree function is part of the distutils.dir_util module, which provides utilities for copying directories and files. It takes two main parameters: the source directory and the destination directory. Here’s a basic syntax of the function:
from distutils.dir_util import copy_treecopy_tree(src, dst)In this syntax, src is the source directory you want to copy, and dst is the destination directory where the contents will be copied to.
Introducing the ignore Parameter
The ignore parameter allows you to specify a list of patterns that match files and directories you want to exclude from the copy operation. These patterns can be either simple filenames or glob patterns. Here’s an example of how to use the ignore parameter:
from distutils.dir_util import copy_treecopy_tree(src, dst, ignore=['.tmp', '.log'])In this example, the function will copy all files and directories from the source directory to the destination directory, excluding any files with a .tmp or .log extension.
Understanding Pattern Matching
Pattern matching in the ignore parameter is based on the glob module, which provides a way to match patterns in filenames. Here are some common glob patterns you can use:
| Pattern | Description |
|---|---|
| “ | Matches any character sequence |
| `?` | Matches any single character |
| `[abc]` | Matches any one of the characters a, b, or c |
| `.[a-z]` | Matches any file with an extension of one lowercase letter |
By using these patterns, you can create a list of ignore patterns that suit your needs. For example, to exclude all files with a .tmp extension, you can use the pattern `.tmp`.
Practical Examples
Let’s look at some practical examples to illustrate how to use the ignore parameter with copy_tree.
Example 1: Exclude Specific Files
In this example, we’ll copy all files and directories from the source directory to the destination directory, excluding the files readme.txt and license.txt.
from distutils.dir_util import copy_treecopy_tree(src, dst, ignore=['readme.txt', 'license.txt'])Example 2: Exclude Files with Specific Extensions
This example demonstrates how to exclude all files with a .tmp extension from the copy operation.
from distutils.dir_util import copy_treecopy_tree(src, dst, ignore=['.tmp'])Example 3: Exclude Directories
In this example, we’ll copy all files and directories from the source directory to the destination directory, excluding the temp directory.
from distutils.dir_util import copy_treecopy_tree(src, dst, ignore=['temp'])Conclusion
Using the ignore parameter with the distutils.dir_util.copy_tree function allows you to
