How to write OS X Finder Comments from python? - python

I'm working on a python script that creates numerous images files based on a variety of inputs in OS X Yosemite. I am trying to write the inputs used to create each file as 'Finder comments' as each file is created so that IF the the output is visually interesting I can look at the specific input values that generated the file. I've verified that this can be done easily with apple script.
tell application "Finder" to set comment of (POSIX file "/Users/mgarito/Desktop/Random_Pixel_Color/2015-01-03_14.04.21.png" as alias) to {Val1, Val2, Val3} as Unicode text
Afterward, upon selecting the file and showing its info (cmd+i) the Finder comments clearly display the expected text 'Val1, Val2, Val2'.
This is further confirmed by running mdls [File/Path/Name] before and after the applescript is used which clearly shows the expected text has been properly added.
The problem is I can't figure out how to incorporate this into my python script to save myself.
Im under the impression the solution should* be something to the effect of:
VarList = [Var1, Var2, Var3]
Fiele = [File/Path/Name]
file.os.system.add(kMDItemFinderComment, VarList)
As a side note I've also look at xattr -w [Attribute_Name] [Attribute_Value] [File/Path/Name] but found that though this will store the attribute, it is not stored in the desired location. Instead it ends up in an affiliated pList which is not what I'm after.

Here is my way to do that.
First you need to install applescript package using pip install applescript command.
Here is a function to add comments to a file:
def set_comment(file_path, comment_text):
import applescript
applescript.tell.app("Finder", f'set comment of (POSIX file "{file_path}" as alias) to "{comment_text}" as Unicode text')
and then I'm just using it like this:
set_comment('/Users/UserAccountName/Pictures/IMG_6860.MOV', 'my comment')

After more digging, I was able to locate a python applescript bundle: https://pypi.python.org/pypi/py-applescript
This got me to a workable answer, though I'd still prefer to do this natively in python if anyone has a better option?
import applescript
NewFile = '[File/Path/Name]' <br>
Comment = "Almost there.."
AddComment = applescript.AppleScript('''
on run {arg1, arg2}
tell application "Finder" to set comment of (POSIX file arg1 as alias) to arg2 as Unicode text
return
end run
''')
print(AddComment.run(NewFile, Comment))
print("Done")

This is the function to get comment of a file.
def get_comment(file_path):
import applescript
return applescript.tell.app("Finder", f'get comment of (POSIX file "{file_path}" as alias)').out
print(get_comment('Your Path'))

Another approach is to use appscript, a high-level Apple event bridge that is sadly no longer officially supported but still works (and saw an updated release in Jan. 2021). Here is an example of reading and setting the comment on a file:
import appscript
import mactypes
# Get a handle on the Finder.
finder = appscript.app('Finder')
# Tell Finder to select the file.
file = finder.items[mactypes.Alias("/path/to/a/file")]
# Print the current comment
comment = file.comment()
print("Current comment: " + comment)
# Set a new comment.
file.comment.set("New comment")
# Print the current comment again to verify.
comment = file.comment()
print("Current comment: " + comment)
Despite that the author of appscript recommends against using it in new projects, I used it recently to create a command-line utility called Urial for the specialized purpose of writing and updating URIs in Finder comments. Perhaps its code can serve as an an additional example of using appscript to manipulate Finder comments.

Related

Print custom formatted text into cmd console

I just started learning python in order to do some stuff for the company I work for. I want to add a command line option like -doc but Ì somehow struggle with adding color or any other custom text format to my documentation (to be printed in cmd).
I have following problems:
1. Ansi escaping doesn't work as I expect when reading tutorials on the internet:
This code: print('\033[31m' + 'Hello' + '\033[0m') doesn't escape at all so I end up with this output: [31mHello[0m
2. I can't import colorama because my users have a plain python installation and I can't just add libraries to it. So my plan would be to add colorama to my project structure.
To 1: Do I misunderstand something important or has someone an idea what I`m doing wrong?
To 2: Is there a way to install colarama into my project without any changes to the plain python installation or dependencies to the outside of my project?
... I would accept any other solution to my problem.
Just use batch to do that.
Code:
#echo [31mHello[0m

Difficult workflow writing Latex book full of Python code

I'm writing a book on coding in python using Latex. I plan on having a lot of text with python code interspersed throughout, along with its output. What's really giving me trouble is when I need to go back and edit my python code, it's a huge pain to get it back nicely into my latest document.
I've done a whole lot of research and can't seem to find a good solution.
This one includes full files as one, doesn't solve my issues
https://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/289385/workflow-for-including-jupyter-aka-ipython-notebooks-as-pages-in-a-latex-docum
Same with this one.
http://blog.juliusschulz.de/blog/ultimate-ipython-notebook
Found Solution 1 (awful)
I can copy and paste python code into latex ok using the listings latex package.
Pros:
Easy to update only small section of code.
Cons:
For output need to run in python, copy, paste separately.
Initial writing SLOW, need to do this process hundreds of times per chapter.
Found Solution 2 (bad)
Use jupyter notebook with markdown, export to Latex, \include file into main Latex document.
Pros:
Streamlined
Has output contained within.
Cons:
To make small changes, need to reimport whole document, any changes made to markdown text within Latex editor are not saved
Renaming a single variable in python after jupyter notebook could take hours.
Editing seems like a giant chore.
Ideal solution
Write Text in Latex
Write python in jupyter notebook, export to latex.
Somehow include code snippets (small sections of the exported file) into different parts of the main latex book. This is the part I can't figure out
When python changes are needed, changes in jupyter, then re-export as latex file with same name
Latex book is automatically updated from includes.
The key here is that the exported python notebook is being split up and sent to different parts of the document. In order for that to work it needs to somehow be tagged or marked in the markdown or code of the notebook, so when I re-export it those same parts get sent to the same spots in the book.
Pros:
Python edits easy, easily propagated back to book.
Text written in latex, can use power of latex
Any help in coming up with a solution closer to my ideal solution would be much appreciated. It's killing me.
Probably doesn't matter, but I'm coding both latex and jupyter notebooks in VS Code. I'm open to changing tools if it means solving these problems.
Here's a small script I wrote. It splits single *.ipynb file and converts it to multiple *.tex file.
Usage is:
copy following script and save as something like main.py
execute python main.py init. it will create main.tex and style_ipython_custom.tplx
in your jupyther notebook, add extra line #latex:tag_a, #latex:tag_b, .. to each cell which you want to extract. same tag will be extracted to same *.tex file.
save it as *.ipynb file. fortunately, current VSCode python plugin supports exporting to *.ipynb, or use jupytext to convert from *.py to *.ipynb.
run python main.py path/to/your.ipynb and it will create tag_a.tex and tag_b.tex
edit main.tex and add \input{tag_a.tex} or \input{tag_b.tex} where ever you want.
run pdflatex main.tex and it will produce main.pdf
The idea behind this script:
Converting from jupyter notebook to LaTex using default nbconvert.LatexExporter produces complete LaTex file which includes macro definitions. Using it to convert each cell will may create large LaTex file. To avoid the problem, the script first creates main.tex which has only macro definitions, and then converts each cell to LaTex file which has no macro defnition. This can be done using custom template file which is slightly modified from style_ipython.tplx
Tagging or marking the cell might be done using cell metadata, but I could not find how to set it in VSCode python plugin (Issue), so instead it scans source of each cell with regex pattern ^#latex:(.*), and remove it before converting it to LaTex file.
Source:
import sys
import re
import os
from collections import defaultdict
import nbformat
from nbconvert import LatexExporter, exporters
OUTPUT_FILES_DIR = './images'
CUSTOM_TEMPLATE = 'style_ipython_custom.tplx'
MAIN_TEX = 'main.tex'
def create_main():
# creates `main.tex` which only has macro definition
latex_exporter = LatexExporter()
book = nbformat.v4.new_notebook()
book.cells.append(
nbformat.v4.new_raw_cell(r'\input{__your_input__here.tex}'))
(body, _) = latex_exporter.from_notebook_node(book)
with open(MAIN_TEX, 'x') as fout:
fout.write(body)
print("created:", MAIN_TEX)
def init():
create_main()
latex_exporter = LatexExporter()
# copy `style_ipython.tplx` in `nbconvert.exporters` module to current directory,
# and modify it so that it does not contain macro definition
tmpl_path = os.path.join(
os.path.dirname(exporters.__file__),
latex_exporter.default_template_path)
src = os.path.join(tmpl_path, 'style_ipython.tplx')
target = CUSTOM_TEMPLATE
with open(src) as fsrc:
with open(target, 'w') as ftarget:
for line in fsrc:
# replace the line so than it does not contain macro definition
if line == "((*- extends 'base.tplx' -*))\n":
line = "((*- extends 'document_contents.tplx' -*))\n"
ftarget.write(line)
print("created:", CUSTOM_TEMPLATE)
def group_cells(note):
# scan the cell source for tag with regexp `^#latex:(.*)`
# if sames tags are found group it to same list
pattern = re.compile(r'^#latex:(.*?)$(\n?)', re.M)
group = defaultdict(list)
for num, cell in enumerate(note.cells):
m = pattern.search(cell.source)
if m:
tag = m.group(1).strip()
# remove the line which contains tag
cell.source = cell.source[:m.start(0)] + cell.source[m.end(0):]
group[tag].append(cell)
else:
print("tag not found in cell number {}. ignore".format(num + 1))
return group
def doit():
with open(sys.argv[1]) as f:
note = nbformat.read(f, as_version=4)
group = group_cells(note)
latex_exporter = LatexExporter()
# use the template which does not contain LaTex macro definition
latex_exporter.template_file = CUSTOM_TEMPLATE
try:
os.mkdir(OUTPUT_FILES_DIR)
except FileExistsError:
pass
for (tag, g) in group.items():
book = nbformat.v4.new_notebook()
book.cells.extend(g)
# unique_key will be prefix of image
(body, resources) = latex_exporter.from_notebook_node(
book,
resources={
'output_files_dir': OUTPUT_FILES_DIR,
'unique_key': tag
})
ofile = tag + '.tex'
with open(ofile, 'w') as fout:
fout.write(body)
print("created:", ofile)
# the image data which is embedded as base64 in notebook
# will be decoded and returned in `resources`, so write it to file
for filename, data in resources.get('outputs', {}).items():
with open(filename, 'wb') as fres:
fres.write(data)
print("created:", filename)
if len(sys.argv) <= 1:
print("USAGE: this_script [init|yourfile.ipynb]")
elif sys.argv[1] == "init":
init()
else:
doit()
Jupyter does not allow exporting specific cells from a notebook -- it only allows you to export the entire notebook. To get as close to your ideal scenario as possible, you need a modular Jupyter set-up:
Split your single Jupyter notebook into smaller notebooks.
Each notebook can then be exported to LaTeX via File > Download as > LaTeX (.tex)
In LaTeX, you can then import the generated .tex file via
\input{filname.tex}
If you want to import the smaller notebooks into cells of your main notebook, you can do this via (see magic command run)
%run my_other_notebook.ipynb #or %run 'my notebook with spaces.ipynb'
You can also insert python files via (see magic command load)
%load python_file.py
which loads the Python file and allows you to execute it in your main notebook.
You can also have small .py snippets, load them in your small Jupyter notebook, and then run that small notebook in your larger one.
Your use of VS Code is fine, tho, Jupyter in the browser may be faster for you to edit.
(reference for all magic commands)
I would use bookdown to have both test and source code in the same document (split over several files for convenience). This package originates in the R world, but is also usable together with other languages. Here a very simple example:
---
output: bookdown::pdf_document2
---
```{r setup, include=FALSE}
knitr::opts_chunk$set(echo = TRUE)
```
# Setup data
First we define some varialbes with data.
```{python data}
bob = ['Bob Smith', 42, 30000, 'software']
sue = ['Sue Jones', 45, 40000, 'music']
```
# Output data
then we output some of the data.
```{python output}
bob[0], sue[2]
```
# Reference code block
Finally lets repeate the code block without evaluating it.
```{python, ref.label="output", eval = FALSE}
```
Output:

Subversion Hook Script WIndows, Python, pysvn

I'm trying to create a hook script for subversion on windows, I have a bat file that calls my python script but getting the log/comments seems to be beyond me.
I have pysvn installed and can get the transaction like this:
repos_path = sys.argv[1]
transaction_name = sys.argv[2]
transaction = pysvn.Transaction( repos_path, transaction_name)
I can also list what has changed:
transaction.changed(0)
What I cannot figure out is how to get the log/comment for the transaction. I realize that in pysvn there is a command similar to:
transaction.propget(propname,path)
But cannot for the life of me get it to return anything. I assume propname should be "svn:log", for path I have tried the fiel name, the repo path, null but all get are errors.
AT the end of the day I need to validate the comment, there will be matching against external data that will evolve, hence why I want to do it in python rather than the bat file, plus it may move to a linux server later.
AM I missing something obvious? How do I get the log/comment as a string?
Thanks, Chris.
After a great deal of trial and error and better searching after a day of frustration I found that I need to use the revision property, not a straight property, for a given transaction this will return the user submitted comment:
transaction.revpropget("svn:log")
There are other useful properties, this will return a list of all revision properties:
transaction.revproplist()
for example:
{'svn:log': 'qqqqqqq', 'svn:txn-client-compat-version': '1.9.7', 'svn:txn-user-agent': 'SVN/1.9.7 (x64-microsoft-windows) TortoiseSVN-1.9.7.27907', 'svn:author': 'harry', 'svn:date': '2017-12-14T16:13:52.361605Z'}

Find desktop folder in a custom location? [duplicate]

I have this small program and it needs to create a small .txt file in their 'My Documents' Folder. Here's the code I have for that:
textfile=open('C:\Users\MYNAME\Documents','w')
lines=['stuff goes here']
textfile.writelines(lines)
textfile.close()
The problem is that if other people use it, how do I change the MYNAME to their account name?
Use os.path.expanduser(path), see http://docs.python.org/library/os.path.html
e.g. expanduser('~/filename')
This works on both Unix and Windows, according to the docs.
Edit: forward slash due to Sven's comment.
This works without any extra libs:
import ctypes.wintypes
CSIDL_PERSONAL = 5 # My Documents
SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT = 0 # Get current, not default value
buf= ctypes.create_unicode_buffer(ctypes.wintypes.MAX_PATH)
ctypes.windll.shell32.SHGetFolderPathW(None, CSIDL_PERSONAL, None, SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT, buf)
print(buf.value)
Also works if documents location and/or default save location is changed by user.
On Windows, you can use something similar what is shown in the accepted answer to the question: Python, get windows special folders for currently logged-in user.
For the My Documents folder path, useshellcon.CSIDL_PERSONALin the shell.SHGetFolderPath() function call instead of shellcon.CSIDL_MYPICTURES.
So, assuming you have the PyWin32 extensions1 installed, this might work (see caveat in Update section below):
>>> from win32com.shell import shell, shellcon
>>> shell.SHGetFolderPath(0, shellcon.CSIDL_PERSONAL, None, 0)
u'<path\\to\\folder>'
Update: I just read something that said that CSIDL_PERSONAL won't return the correct folder if the user has changed the default save folder in the Win7 Documents library. This is referring to what you can do in library's Properties dialog:
The checkmark means that the path is set as the default save location.
I currently am unware of a way to call the SHLoadLibraryFromKnownFolder() function through PyWin32 (there currently isn't a shell.SHLoadLibraryFromKnownFolder. However it should be possible to do so using the ctypes module.
1Installers for the latest versions of the Python for Windows Extensions are currently available from: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32

Finding the user's "My Documents" path

I have this small program and it needs to create a small .txt file in their 'My Documents' Folder. Here's the code I have for that:
textfile=open('C:\Users\MYNAME\Documents','w')
lines=['stuff goes here']
textfile.writelines(lines)
textfile.close()
The problem is that if other people use it, how do I change the MYNAME to their account name?
Use os.path.expanduser(path), see http://docs.python.org/library/os.path.html
e.g. expanduser('~/filename')
This works on both Unix and Windows, according to the docs.
Edit: forward slash due to Sven's comment.
This works without any extra libs:
import ctypes.wintypes
CSIDL_PERSONAL = 5 # My Documents
SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT = 0 # Get current, not default value
buf= ctypes.create_unicode_buffer(ctypes.wintypes.MAX_PATH)
ctypes.windll.shell32.SHGetFolderPathW(None, CSIDL_PERSONAL, None, SHGFP_TYPE_CURRENT, buf)
print(buf.value)
Also works if documents location and/or default save location is changed by user.
On Windows, you can use something similar what is shown in the accepted answer to the question: Python, get windows special folders for currently logged-in user.
For the My Documents folder path, useshellcon.CSIDL_PERSONALin the shell.SHGetFolderPath() function call instead of shellcon.CSIDL_MYPICTURES.
So, assuming you have the PyWin32 extensions1 installed, this might work (see caveat in Update section below):
>>> from win32com.shell import shell, shellcon
>>> shell.SHGetFolderPath(0, shellcon.CSIDL_PERSONAL, None, 0)
u'<path\\to\\folder>'
Update: I just read something that said that CSIDL_PERSONAL won't return the correct folder if the user has changed the default save folder in the Win7 Documents library. This is referring to what you can do in library's Properties dialog:
The checkmark means that the path is set as the default save location.
I currently am unware of a way to call the SHLoadLibraryFromKnownFolder() function through PyWin32 (there currently isn't a shell.SHLoadLibraryFromKnownFolder. However it should be possible to do so using the ctypes module.
1Installers for the latest versions of the Python for Windows Extensions are currently available from: http://sourceforge.net/projects/pywin32

Categories