How to read a large file set
Question: I am very new to Python. So please give specific advice. I am using Python
3.2.2.

I need to read a large file set in my computer. Now I can not even open it. To
verify the directory of the file, I used:

    
    
    >>> import os
    >>> os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath('a9000006.txt'))
    

It gives me the location `'C:\\Python32'`

Then I wrote up codes to open it:

    
    
    >>> file=open('C:\\Python32\a9000006.txt','r')
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        File "<pyshell#29>", line 1, in <module>
          file=open('C:\\Python32\a9000006.txt','r')
    IOError: [Errno 22] Invalid argument: 'C:\\Python32\x079000006.txt'
    

Then I tried another one:

    
    
    >>> file=open('C:\\Python32\\a9000006.txt','r')
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        File "<pyshell#33>", line 1, in <module>
          file=open('C:\\Python32\\a9000006.txt','r')
    IOError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Python32\\a9000006.txt'
    

Then another one:

    
    
    >>> file=open(r'C:\Python32\a9000006.txt','r')
    Traceback (most recent call last):
        File "<pyshell#35>", line 1, in <module>
          file=open(r'C:\Python32\a9000006.txt','r')
    IOError: [Errno 2] No such file or directory: 'C:\\Python32\\a9000006.txt'
    

The file is saved in the Python folder. But, it is in a folder, so the path is
`D\Software\Python\Python3.2.2\Part1\Part1awards_1990\awd_1990_00`. It is
multiple layers of folders.

Also, and anyone share how to read the abstract section of all files in that
folder? Thanks.


Answer: `\a` is the ASCII bell character, not a backslash and an `a`. Use forward
slashes instead of backslashes:

    
    
    open('C:/Python32/a9000006.txt')
    

and use the actual path to the file instead of `C:/Python32/a9000006.txt` It's
not clear from your question what that path might be; you seem like you might
already know the path, but you're misusing `realpath` in a way that seems like
you're trying to use it to search for the file. `realpath` doesn't do that.

