File Manager Using Python

Using Tkinter, to create a file explorer in Python.

Using Python’s Tkinter, OS, and shutil modules, we’ll create a GUI-based File Explorer in this Python project.
It’s a beginner-level project, so you’ll need a basic understanding of all the libraries, and you’ll get to use them in real life with this project. Let’s get this coding started!

About File Managers:

A file manager is a piece of software that allows a user to handle various types of files on a computer.
The File Explorer, which is included in all operating systems, is the most widely recognized sort of file manager.

About the python file explorer project:

The goal is to design a File Manager with a graphical user interface.
You’ll need a basic understanding of Tkinter, OS, and shutil libraries to develop this.

Structure of the Project’s Files

To make this python file explorer project, you’ll need to follow these steps:

Importing the required modules is the first step.
Defining the functions of all the buttons as well as the GUI window’s variables.
Setting up the window, inserting the components, and closing it.

Project Prerequisites:

The following libraries will be required to complete this python file explorer project:

1. Tkinter is used to develop the graphical user interface (GUI).

2. Operating System (OS) – To operate on a file and its path.

3. Shutil is a command that allows you to copy or move a file.

1. Importing all required modules:

				
					from tkinter import *
import tkinter.filedialog as fd
import tkinter.messagebox as mb
import os
import shutil

Explanation:

The from tkinter import * statement imports everything from the tkinter library’s init file.
The filedialog module contains routines for opening and saving dialogues.
The messagebox module is a set of functions that show various types of messages using various icons.

2. Defining the functions of all the buttons and the variables for the GUI window:

				
					# Creating the backend functions for python file explorer project
def open_file():
   file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file of any type', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

   os.startfile(os.path.abspath(file))


def copy_file():
   file_to_copy = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to copy', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])
   dir_to_copy_to = fd.askdirectory(title="In which folder to copy to?")

   try:
       shutil.copy(file_to_copy, dir_to_copy_to)
       mb.showinfo(title='File copied!', message='Your desired file has been copied to your desired location')
   except:
       mb.showerror(title='Error!', message='We were unable to copy your file to the desired location. Please try again')


def delete_file():
   file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to delete', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

   os.remove(os.path.abspath(file))

   mb.showinfo(title='File deleted', message='Your desired file has been deleted')


def rename_file():
   file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to rename', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

   rename_wn = Toplevel(root)
   rename_wn.title("Rename the file to")
   rename_wn.geometry("250x70"); rename_wn.resizable(0, 0)

   Label(rename_wn, text='What should be the new name of the file?', font=("Times New Roman", 10)).place(x=0, y=0)

   new_name = Entry(rename_wn, width=40, font=("Times New Roman", 10))
   new_name.place(x=0, y=30)

   new_file_name = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(file), new_name.get()+os.path.splitext(file)[1])

   os.rename(file, new_file_name)
   mb.showinfo(title="File Renamed", message='Your desired file has been renamed')


def open_folder():
   folder = fd.askdirectory(title="Select Folder to open")
   os.startfile(folder)


def delete_folder():
   folder_to_delete = fd.askdirectory(title='Choose a folder to delete')
   os.rmdir(folder_to_delete)
   mb.showinfo("Folder Deleted", "Your desired folder has been deleted")


def move_folder():
   folder_to_move = fd.askdirectory(title='Select the folder you want to move')
   mb.showinfo(message='You just selected the folder to move, now please select the desired destination where you want to move the folder to')
   destination = fd.askdirectory(title='Where to move the folder to')

   try:
       shutil.move(folder_to_move, destination)
       mb.showinfo("Folder moved", 'Your desired folder has been moved to the location you wanted')
   except:
       mb.showerror('Error', 'We could not move your folder. Please make sure that the destination exists')


def list_files_in_folder():
   i = 0

   folder = fd.askdirectory(title='Select the folder whose files you want to list')

   files = os.listdir(os.path.abspath(folder))

   list_files_wn = Toplevel(root)
   list_files_wn.title(f'Files in {folder}')
   list_files_wn.geometry('250x250')
   list_files_wn.resizable(0, 0)

   listbox = Listbox(list_files_wn, selectbackground='SteelBlue', font=("Georgia", 10))
   listbox.place(relx=0, rely=0, relheight=1, relwidth=1)

   scrollbar = Scrollbar(listbox, orient=VERTICAL, command=listbox.yview)
   scrollbar.pack(side=RIGHT, fill=Y)

   listbox.config(yscrollcommand=scrollbar.set)

   while i < len(files):
       listbox.insert(END, files[i])
       i += 1


# Defining the variables
title = 'IAMNK File Manager'
background = '#C80D0D'

button_font = ("Times New Roman", 13)
button_background = '#ffde59'

Explanation:

The components of the filedialog module utilised in this project are as follows:
- To pick a file, use the askfilename function, with title title and filetypes filetypes.
- To choose a folder, use the askdirectory function.
- Both of these functions keep track of the file’s path.
The components of the OS library utilised in this project are as follows:
- The path module has the following functions:
  - - The abspath function returns the path of the file sent in as an argument.
  - The join function joins two portions of a file, usually the name and extension.
  - The dirname function returns the name of the directory in which a file is stored.
  - The splittext function is used to split a file’s name into a list with the file’s name and extensions as separate items.
The init module has the following functions:
- - To rename a file or folder, use the rename function.
  - To open a file in an external application, use the startfile function.
  - To delete a whole directory, use the rmdir function.
  - To delete a file, use the remove function.
The following are the components of the Shutil library that were utilised in this project:
- The copy function copies a file from its source location, src, to the computer’s desired destination, dst.
- The move function is used to move a file from one location to another, from source to destination.

Note: In the next step, all of the tkinter aspects in this step will be described.

3. Creating the window, putting the components in place, and finishing it:

				
					# Initializing the window
root = Tk()
root.title(title)
root.geometry('250x400')
root.resizable(0, 0)
root.config(bg=background)

# Creating and placing the components in the window
Label(root, text=title, font=("Comic Sans MS", 15), bg=background, wraplength=250).place(x=20, y=0)

Button(root, text='Open a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=open_file).place(x=30, y=50)

Button(root, text='Copy a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=copy_file).place(x=30, y=90)

Button(root, text='Rename a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=rename_file).place(x=30, y=130)

Button(root, text='Delete a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=delete_file).place(x=30, y=170)

Button(root, text='Open a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=open_folder).place(x=30, y=210)

Button(root, text='Delete a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=delete_folder).place(x=30, y=250)

Button(root, text='Move a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=move_folder).place(x=30, y=290)

Button(root, text='List all files in a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background,
      command=list_files_in_folder).place(x=30, y=330)

# Finalizing the window
root.update()
root.mainloop()

Explanation:

The GUI window is assigned to a variable using the Tk() class.
- The.title() method is used to give the window a title.
- The.geometry() method is used to define the window’s initial geometry.
- The.resizable() method is used to give the user the option of resizing or not resizing a window.
- The.config() method is used to configure the object’s extra characteristics.
The Label class creates a Label widget in the window, which is a frame for displaying static text. It has the following methods and attributes:
- - The widget’s parent window is specified by the master attribute.
- The text attribute is used to specify the text that will be shown in the widget.
- The font element is used to provide the text’s font name, font size, and bold/italic.
- The bg attribute specifies the widget’s background colour.
- The wraplength property specifies how many pixels the text will wrap to next line after.
The Button class adds a button to its parent element that, when pressed, performs a function.
It has the following characteristics:
- The widget’s width attribute specifies the widget’s length in pixels.
- When the button is pressed, the command attribute is used to specify the function that will be performed.
- The other characteristics have already been mentioned.
The Toplevel class is similar to the Frame widget, except that its child widgets are always displayed in a new window.
- This class has the same methods and characteristics as the Tk() class.
In the GUI window, the Entry class is used to add an input field.
It employs the following strategies:
- The textvariable property is used to create a StringVar(string), IntVar(integer), or DoubleVar(float) variable to store or update the value in the Entry widget, as well as to give it a type [as shown in brackets against the __Var words].
- The class’s other characteristics have already been explored.
- The.get() method is used to retrieve the user’s input.
  This method does not accept any parameters.
The Listbox class is used to add a multiline, static textbox to the window from which the user can choose items.
- The selectbackground attribute is used to define the colour of the selected background.
- The yscroll command attribute is used to specify the scrollbar that will be used to manage the widget’s up-and-down scrolling.
- The other characteristics have already been mentioned.
- To insert an element or elements, *elements, at the index index, use the.insert(index, *elements) method.
- An appropriate tkinter constant or an integer can be used as the index argument.
- The.yview() method is used to create a scrollbar that allows you to see the up and down of the widget you’re working with.
The Scrollbar class is used to add a scrollbar to a widget’s parent that regulates the parent’s movement.
- The orient parameter specifies the orientation of the scrollbar on the window.
- The other characteristics have already been mentioned.
- To connect the scrollbar to another widget, use the.set() method.

The Complete Code:

				
					from tkinter import *
import tkinter.filedialog as fd
import tkinter.messagebox as mb

import os
import shutil

# Creating the backend functions
def open_file():
    file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file of any type', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

    os.startfile(os.path.abspath(file))


def copy_file():
    file_to_copy = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to copy', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])
    dir_to_copy_to = fd.askdirectory(title="In which folder to copy to?")

    try:
        shutil.copy(file_to_copy, dir_to_copy_to)
        mb.showinfo(title='File copied!', message='Your desired file has been copied to your desired location')
    except:
        mb.showerror(title='Error!', message='We were unable to copy your file to the desired location. Please try again')


def delete_file():
    file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to delete', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

    os.remove(os.path.abspath(file))

    mb.showinfo(title='File deleted', message='Your desired file has been deleted')


def rename_file():
    file = fd.askopenfilename(title='Choose a file to rename', filetypes=[("All files", "*.*")])

    rename_wn = Toplevel(root)
    rename_wn.title("Rename the file to")
    rename_wn.geometry("250x70"); rename_wn.resizable(0, 0)

    Label(rename_wn, text='What should be the new name of the file?', font=("Times New Roman", 10)).place(x=0, y=0)

    new_name = Entry(rename_wn, width=40, font=("Times New Roman", 10))
    new_name.place(x=0, y=30)

    new_file_name = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(file), new_name.get()+os.path.splitext(file)[1])

    os.rename(file, new_file_name)
    mb.showinfo(title="File Renamed", message='Your desired file has been renamed')


def open_folder():
    folder = fd.askdirectory(title="Select Folder to open")
    os.startfile(folder)


def delete_folder():
    folder_to_delete = fd.askdirectory(title='Choose a folder to delete')
    os.rmdir(folder_to_delete)
    mb.showinfo("Folder Deleted", "Your desired folder has been deleted")


def move_folder():
    folder_to_move = fd.askdirectory(title='Select the folder you want to move')
    mb.showinfo(message='You just selected the folder to move, now please select the desired destination where you want to move the folder to')
    destination = fd.askdirectory(title='Where to move the folder to')

    try:
        shutil.move(folder_to_move, destination)
        mb.showinfo("Folder moved", 'Your desired folder has been moved to the location you wanted')
    except:
        mb.showerror('Error', 'We could not move your folder. Please make sure that the destination exists')


def list_files_in_folder():
    folder = fd.askdirectory(title='Select the folder whose files you want to list')

    files = os.listdir(str(os.path.abspath(folder)))

    list_files_wn = Toplevel(root)
    list_files_wn.title('Files in your selected folder')
    list_files_wn.geometry('150x250')
    list_files_wn.resizable(0, 0)

    listbox = Listbox(list_files_wn, selectbackground='SteelBlue', font=("Georgia", 10), height=15, width=20)

    scrollbar = Scrollbar(listbox, orient=VERTICAL, command=listbox.yview)
    scrollbar.pack(side=RIGHT)

    listbox.config(yscrollcommand=scrollbar.set)
    listbox.place(x=10, y=10)

    for file in list(files):
        listbox.insert(END, file)


# Defining the variables
title = 'IAMNK File Manager'
background = '#C80D0D'

button_font = ("Times New Roman", 13)
button_background = '#ffde59'

# Initializing the window
root = Tk()
root.title(title)
root.geometry('250x400')
root.resizable(0, 0)
root.config(bg=background)

# Creating and placing the components in the window
Label(root, text=title, font=("Comic Sans MS", 15), bg=background, wraplength=250).place(x=20, y=0)

Button(root, text='Open a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=open_file).place(x=30, y=50)

Button(root, text='Copy a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=copy_file).place(x=30, y=90)

Button(root, text='Rename a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=rename_file).place(x=30, y=130)

Button(root, text='Delete a file', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=delete_file).place(x=30, y=170)

Button(root, text='Open a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=open_folder).place(x=30, y=210)

Button(root, text='Delete a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=delete_folder).place(x=30, y=250)

Button(root, text='Move a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background, command=move_folder).place(x=30, y=290)

Button(root, text='List all files in a folder', width=20, font=button_font, bg=button_background,
       command=list_files_in_folder).place(x=30, y=330)

# Finalizing the window
root.update()
root.mainloop()

The Final Output:

Congratulations,

I think the Python File Manager is really cool, and I hope you enjoyed the process as much as I did.

As a result, if you like what you’ve read, please leave a comment and follow me on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Don’t forget to subscribe to my channel and clicking the bell icon.