From c7dd0dfdf709eae104e0e56dabf5c9781d47e1d9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: rasbt <raskberry@mail.com>
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2013 12:49:47 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] get_filename.py

---
 get_filename.py | 63 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 1 file changed, 63 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 get_filename.py

diff --git a/get_filename.py b/get_filename.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a05f92a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/get_filename.py
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Python 2.7
+# prompt user for file of specific type(s).
+# 11/01/13 sebastian raschka
+
+import os.path
+
+def get_filename(file_type):
+    '''repeatedly prompts user for a file of specific type.
+       arguments:
+           file_type: list with accepted file types as strings.
+       returns:
+           (string): absolute path to the specified input file.
+    '''
+    while True:
+        print "\n\nplease enter a file name, \nor type --help to get"\
+                " a list of the accepted file formats"
+        file_name = raw_input(": ")
+        if file_name == "--help":
+            print "\naccepted file format(s): ",
+            for f in file_type:
+                print f,
+            continue        
+        if not os.path.isfile(file_name):
+            print "\n\nsorry, this file doesn't exist. please try again.\n"
+            continue
+        if not (file_name.split(".")[-1] in file_type):
+            print "\nplease provide a file in correct format."
+            continue
+        break
+    return os.path.abspath(file_name)
+
+#get_filename(["txt", "doc"])
+
+
+# ===========================
+# EXAMPLE
+# ===========================
+
+'''
+[bash]~/Desktop >python get_filename.py 
+
+
+please enter a file name, 
+or type --help to get a list of the accepted file formats
+: --help
+
+accepted file format(s):  txt doc 
+
+please enter a file name, 
+or type --help to get a list of the accepted file formats
+: test.tx 
+
+
+sorry, this file doesn't exist. please try again.
+
+
+
+please enter a file name, 
+or type --help to get a list of the accepted file formats
+: test.txt
+[bash]~/Desktop >
+'''
+