Why Can't I Delete a File I Created with Win XP?

[Tom Pacheco]

W. eWatson wrote:
> I'm trying to store analytic data in a folder called Analysis. If the 
> user doesn't have the folder, I make one for him, and then write a txt 
> file into it. In this case a histogram of values, x and frequency. 
> However, it appears that I made a mistake somewhere and cannot delete 
> it using the Win XP delete. Here's the code that determines if 
> Analysis exists, and whether to create it.
>
>         print "Path for Histogram", self.current_path
>         s = self.current_path
>         s = "Analysis"
>         s = os.path.join("Analysis",s)
>         print "s joined ",s    <------------- debug print
>         if not os.path.exists("Analysis"):
>             os.mkdir("Analysis")
>         f = file( s, "wb")
>         if not f:
>             self.LogError( "Histogram file creation error 1" )
>             return False
>
> In writing the code to handle all of this, I forgot to write the txt 
> folder to the file, nor did I close it. It was someone else's code, 
> and I got caught up in the creation of Analysis. Here's what XP tells 
> me when I try to delete the folder.
>
> Very funny. I just tried it to get the content of the msg, and XP 
> deleted it. Let me recreate it and try again. OK, here it is:
>
>   Error Deleting Folder or File.
>   Cannot delete Analysis: It is being used by another person or program.
>   Close programs that might be using it and try again.
>
> There is no file created, just the folders Analysis\Analysis. One too 
> many. The second Analysis shows as an icon for a file of size 0KB.
>
> I printed with the debug print above:
>   Path for Histogram Events\v20070206_055012.06.dat
>   s joined  Analysis\Analysis
> Analysis\Analysis should only be Analysis.

noticed your assigning the same variable twice
-------------------------------
        s = self.current_path
        s = "Analysis"
-------------------------------
if you are expecting
Analysis\Events\v20070206_055012.06.dat

delete the second line

as others have said if you can not delete the file if must still be open.

why are you talking about deleting a file but only show code for opening it?