Setting a working folder to where my script lives in Python

Question

I was looking for an easy way to set a working folder at the beginning of my script to avoid having to change it each time I run my script from another machine. Sorry if it is silly but I can't find an answer without having to dive deeply into the sea of weird functions - and I don't know how to swim.

I would use it to save all images to the same specific folder.

My take:

#import stuff
filepath=raw_input('Provide the working directory: ')
#do stuff
plt.savefig(filepath+'\\image.jpg', dpi=2000,bbox='tight')

EDIT I have a number of files to save in one specific directory, the same where my script lives. But it is specified like this: C:\\Users\\User\\Desktop\\N_Scripts and it is on my own pc, but I oftentimes work on a different machine. How to preset the directory where all my images go to at the beginning of my script with something like raw_input?

Thank you for your help!

I didn't down-vote the question still my explanation for down vote would be I can't find a quick and easy answer not on your knowledge level. — WoodChopper
– WoodChopper, Commented Oct 28, 2015 at 11:03
@FrancescoCastellani I figure out you're using matplotlib. Can you provide all relevant parts of the script? (e.g. imports) — Don
– Don, Commented Oct 28, 2015 at 11:07
@J.F.Sebastian the idea is to get rid of having to retype a different directory each time I run my script from a different machine. How and where in the script would you use os.path.join? Before or after plt.savefig? — FaCoffee
– FaCoffee, Commented Oct 28, 2015 at 11:08

Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:14:34Z

1

to save in one specific directory, the same where my script lives

To change the current working directory inside your Python script to a directory where your script lives:

import os

os.chdir(get_script_dir())

where get_script_dir() is defined here.

But then, once you use os.chdir, how do I modify the argument of plt.savefig to make sure my images are saved where my script is?
Would it just be plt.savefig(os.chdir(get_script_dir())+'\image.jpg)?

Use plt.savefig('image.jpg').

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:14

CommunityBot

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answered Oct 28, 2015 at 11:25

jfs

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3 Comments

FaCoffee Over a year ago

So I guess it is not possible to use something like raw_input to allow the user to pre-determine the dir where he/she wants the files to be saved...

FaCoffee Over a year ago

But then, once you use os.chdir, how do I modify the argument of plt.savefig to make sure my images are saved where my script is? Would it just be plt.savefig(os.chdir(get_script_dir())+'\\image.jpg)?

jfs Over a year ago

@FrancescoCastellani: you have asked "where my script lives". If you want something different; it is a different question. Obviously, you can ask user if you want (you could use raw_input() on Python 2, to ask from the command line or you could use tkFileDialog.askdirectory() to ask via GUI).

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