Python os.startfile Method

1. Syntax of os.startfile() Method:
2. Parameter(s)
3. Returns
4. Example Code: Use of the os.startfile() Method
5. Example Code: FileNotFoundError Exception in the os.startfile() Method
6. Example Code: Operation Parameter in the os.startfile() Method
7. Example Code: Open URLs With the os.startfile() Method
8. Example Code: os.startfile() Method for Windows OS & os.open() Method for Linux OS

In python, we have the os module to communicate with the operating system. This os module provides us with a method known as startfile(), which takes the file name as a string argument and opens that file.

The startfile() method returns the exception if the system finds no file. To further elaborate the startfile() method, let’s check its syntax, parameters, return type and source code below.

Syntax of os.startfile() Method:

os.startfile(path, operation, arguments, cwd, show_cmd)

Parameter(s)

Returns

This method doesn’t return anything. Instead, it opens the file or a directory, which is passed as a parameter to this method.

Example Code: Use of the os.startfile() Method

In python, we use the method os.startfile() to start or open the file. To use this method, we pass a parameter to the method in string data type, which shows a valid path of a file or a directory.

In case the path is given invalid, it shows FileNotFoundError exception. The method os.startfile() also opens different file extensions for example; .txt files, .pdf files, image file types (like .jpg/.png), .doc (word) file.

Let’s see the example and source code below on using the os.startfile() method and different file extensions.

# use the os module to use the operating system method associated with it
import os

# this method opens the txt file
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/dictionary.txt")
# opens the pdf file
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/Firebase+article.pdf")
# opens the word file
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/requirement.docx")
# opens the jpg file
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/R.jpg")
print("All Files opened successfully.")
# opens the directory
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/")
print("I opened Directory as well")

Output:

# console shows the respective output if there is no exception.
All Files opened successfully.
I opened Directory as well

Example Code: FileNotFoundError Exception in the os.startfile() Method

In method os.startfile() takes the string parameter that highlights the path of a directory or a file. So, if you provide the parameter that is not valid or not found, then the method will return the FileNotFoundError exception.

This exception occurs on an invalid or unavailable file or a directory. Now, see the below source code on this exception and how we handle the situation.

import os

# handling exception by the use of try & except
try:
    # start an invalid directory with startfile() method
    os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downlo/")
# handling the FileNotFoundError exception
except FileNotFoundError as not_found:
    print("The directory was not found and handled exceptions successfully.")

# when an exception is not handled
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/Dicts.txt")

Output:

# output where file handling is implemented
The directory was not found and handled exceptions successfully.
# file handling is not implemented
FileNotFoundError: [WinError 2] The system cannot find the file specified: 'C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/Dicts.txt'

Example Code: Operation Parameter in the os.startfile() Method

In python, with the os.startfile() method, when we use a single parameter, it opens a file or a directory without doing any particular operation.

With os.startfile() method, we have an additional and optional parameter which is an operation parameter. This parameter specifies what we should do with the os.startfile() method.

The parameter has different operation commands with the file and directory. For example, with a file, we use print and edit operation parameters, and with directory, we use explore and find operation parameters.

File Operation Parameter

• print –> use the specified file for a print
• edit –> open the specified file for an edit

Directory Operation Parameter

• explore –> open the specified path directory
• find –> provide the search bar on the specified directory for file search

The source code below demonstrates the method os.startfile() with the second optional parameter.

import os

# file operations print and edit on startfile() method
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/dictionary.txt", "print")
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/dictionary.txt", "edit")
# directory operations explore and find on startfile() method
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/", "explore")
os.startfile("C:/Users/lenovo/Downloads/", "find")
# print the statement, if no exception
print("All operations are done successfully.")

Output:

# output, when there is no exception, occurs in the above source code
All operations are done successfully.

Example Code: Open URLs With the os.startfile() Method

In addition to the previous examples, we use the method os.startfile() to open or start a URL from the browser. As we know, this method takes the parameter string as a path or a directory.

In the below example, we send the URL parameter in string type to the os.startfile() method. The method does not check the validity of the URL (string), instead opens the browser and browses the provided URL.

If the URL is valid, it opens the website; otherwise, the browser shows a This site cannot be reached message. See the below example on how we can browse or start a URL from the os.startfile method.

import os

# module to display web-based interface to users
import webbrowser

# takes two parameters, i.e. URL and html


def open_result(outfile, target):
    # check if the target parameter is html and OS is Windows
    if target == "html":
        webbrowser.open_new_tab(outfile)
    elif sys.platform == "win32":
        os.startfile(outfile)
    # check for the mac operating system
    elif "mac" in sys.platform or "darwin" in sys.platform:
        os.system("open %s" % outfile)
        print(outfile)
    elif "posix" in sys.platform or "linux" in sys.platform:
        os.system("xdg-open %s" % outfile)


# calling the user-defined function here
open_result("www.google.com", "html")
print("Provided URL opens on the browser successfully.")

Output:

# browser opens and shows the browsed URL after displaying the result on the console
Provided URL opens on the browser successfully.

Example Code: os.startfile() Method for Windows OS & os.open() Method for Linux OS

The method os.startfile() has support for Windows operating system only. If we need a similar method in the Linux operating system, we use another similar method to the os.startfile(), the os.open() method.

The syntax of this method is os.open(filename, flag) where the name file is in string data type and flag contains contents like O_RDONLY and O_WRONLY.

These constants are available in both Windows and Linux operating systems. This method also returns a file object for reading and writing methods. To use this method, see the below example with source code implementation.

import os
import sys

# make an fd to pass to write() method as a parameter
file_descriptor = os.open("myfile.txt", os.O_CREAT | os.O_RDWR)
# writing the byte code into the file
os.write(file_descriptor, b"Write here anything")
# closing the file
os.close(file_descriptor)
print("The file is closed successfully!!")

Output:

# output when the method shows support for Windows and Linux OS
The file is closed successfully!!