Python: OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: ''

python python-2.7 python-module
Hugolpz picture Hugolpz · Mar 31, 2013 · Viewed 153.2k times · Source

I have a 100 lines, 3 years old python scraper that now bug. Starting lines are:

import urllib, re, os, sys, time    # line 1: import modules
os.chdir(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0])) # line 2: all works in script's folder > relative address
# (rest of my script here!)

When run, 

$cd /my/folder/
$python script.py

I receive the error:

python script.py 
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "script.py", line 2, in <module>
    os.chdir(os.path.dirname(sys.argv[0]))
OSError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: ''

How should I read this error and what to do ?

Answer

zigg picture zigg · Mar 31, 2013

Have you noticed that you don't get the error if you run

python ./script.py

instead of

python script.py

This is because sys.argv[0] will read ./script.py in the former case, which gives os.path.dirname something to work with. When you don't specify a path, sys.argv[0] reads simply script.py, and os.path.dirname cannot determine a path.

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