[Tutor] 'File' utility for python?

[dman]

On Fri, Jan 18, 2002 at 06:06:10PM -0700, VanL wrote:
| Hello,
| 
| Does anyone know of a python utility that can do the same thing as the 
| unix utility 'file'?

No, but I think there is a library that could probably be wrapped, or
'file' can be run in a pipe and the output looked at.

| I need to figure out if something is non-destructively editable (i.e., 
| text) before I run a search-and replace on it.

Do a search for anything that is not in the US-ASCII printable range.
That will likely suffice.

if re.search( "[^[:alnum:][:space:][:punct:]]" , <your text> ) :
    print "not plain ascii"
else :
    <your text> = <your text>.replace( <something> , <something else> )

-D

-- 

Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord 
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

        Isaiah 40:31