How to know/change current directory in Python shell?

Question

I am using Python 3.2 on Windows 7. When I open the Python shell, how can I know what the current directory is and how can I change it to another directory where my modules

Answer 1

You can use the os module.

>>> import os
>>> os.getcwd()
'/home/user'
>>> os.chdir("/tmp/")
>>> os.getcwd()
'/tmp'

But if it's about finding other modules: You can set an environment variable called PYTHONPATH, under Linux would be like

export PYTHONPATH=/path/to/my/library:$PYTHONPATH

Then, the interpreter searches also at this place for imported modules. I guess the name would be the same under Windows, but don't know how to change.

edit

Under Windows:

set PYTHONPATH=%PYTHONPATH%;C:\My_python_lib

(taken from http://docs.python.org/using/windows.html)

edit 2

... and even better: use virtualenv and virtualenv_wrapper, this will allow you to create a development environment where you can add module paths as you like (add2virtualenv) without polluting your installation or "normal" working environment.

http://virtualenvwrapper.readthedocs.org/en/latest/command_ref.html

Answer 2

If you import os you can use os.getcwd to get the current working directory, and you can use os.chdir to change your directory

Answer 3

You can try this:

import os

current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))   # Can also use os.getcwd()
print(current_dir)                                         # prints(say)- D:\abc\def\ghi\jkl\mno"
new_dir = os.chdir('..\\..\\..\\')                         
print(new_dir)                                             # prints "D:\abc\def\ghi"

Answer 4

>>> import os
>>> os.system('cd c:\mydir')

In fact, os.system() can execute any command that windows command prompt can execute, not just change dir.

Answer 5

The easiest way to change the current working directory in python is using the 'os' package. Below there is an example for windows computer:

# Import the os package
import os

# Confirm the current working directory 
os.getcwd()

# Use '\\' while changing the directory 
os.chdir("C:\\user\\foldername")

Answer 6

you want

import os
os.getcwd()
os.chdir('..')