How to replace strings in multiple file using Python

Question

I have two files (say file1 and file2). There are strings in file1 and file2 (equal numbers of strings).

I want to search the content of file1 in a directory(which have multiple sub-directories and XML files) which contains XML files and replace it with the content for file2.

import subprocess
import sys
import os
f_line = f.readlines()
g_line = g.readlines()
f=open("file1.txt")
g=open("file2.txt")

i = 0
for line in f_line:
    if line.replace("\r\n", "") != g_line[i].replace("\r\n", "") :
        print (line)
        print(g_line[i])
        cmd = "sed -i 's/" + line.replace("\r\n", "") + "/" + line[i].replace("\r\n","") + "/g' " + "`grep -l -R " + line.replace("\r\n", "") + " *.xml`"
        print(cmd)
        os.system(cmd)
    i = i + 1

But the problem I'm facing is like this. The script searches the files and string and prints also (print(cmd)) but when I sun this script placing in the directory, I see this error in CYGWIN window "no input files for sed".

This question makes very little sense. Can you provide example input, out, and what you have done already? — Derek Schrock
– Derek Schrock, Commented Dec 6, 2012 at 3:43
@Derek file1 harry shoot raj file2 care poor dear now i want to search string "harry" of file1 in the some directory (myfolder/project/) and replace with string of file 2 "care" and so on. did i make my point clear? — harry
– harry, Commented Dec 6, 2012 at 3:44
@harry you should edit your question to add the contents of your comment. — tacaswell
– tacaswell, Commented Dec 6, 2012 at 3:49
See open here docs.python.org/2/library/functions.html#open , readlines here docs.python.org/2/tutorial/inputoutput.html, os.walk here docs.python.org/2/library/os.html and re.sub here docs.python.org/2/library/re.html — Himanshu
– Himanshu, Commented Dec 6, 2012 at 3:50
also, for kicks, you might want sed grymoire.com/Unix/Sed.html — tacaswell
– tacaswell, Commented Dec 6, 2012 at 3:51

Himanshu · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-06 04:06:03Z

1

read two files into a dictionary

walk the directory reading xml files, replacing their contents, backing them up and overwriting the originals

f1 = open('pathtofile1').readlines()
f2 = open('pathtofile2').readlines()
replaceWith = dict()
for i in range(len(f1)):
    replaceWith[f1[i].strip()] = f2[i].strip()

for root, dirnames, filenames in os.walk('pathtodir'):
    for f in filenames:
        f = open(os.path.join(root, f), 'r')
        contents = f.read()
        for k, v in replaceWith:
            contents = re.sub(k, v, contents)
        f.close()
        shutil.copyfile(os.path.join(root, f), os.path.join(root, f)+'.bak')
        f = open(os.path.join(root, f), 'w')
        f.write(contents)
        f.close()

A limitation is that if some search strings appear in replacements strings, a string may be replaced many times over.

edited Dec 6, 2012 at 4:06

answered Dec 6, 2012 at 3:57

Himanshu

2,4743 gold badges26 silver badges42 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to replace strings in multiple file using Python

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related