Matching directory paths with a value in python
<p>I have this code where I search for a value (inputCategory), which often is in the end of a path (eg <code>/blah/blah/&lt;category/blah</code> or sometimes <code>/blah/blah/&lt;category&gt;</code></p>

<pre><code>def category_search(inputDirectory, inputCategory, root):
    categorySearch = os.path.split(os.path.normpath(inputDirectory)) 
    if categorySearch[1] == inputName:
        Logger.info("SEARCH: Files appear to be in their own directory")
        categorySearch2 = os.path.split(os.path.normpath(categorySearch[0]))
        if categorySearch2[1] == twoCategory or categorySearch2[1] == oneCategory:
            if not inputCategory:
            Logger.info("SEARCH: Determined Category to be: %s", categorySearch2[1])
                inputCategory = categorySearch2[1]
        elif not inputCategory:
            Logger.error("SEARCH: Could not identify category from the directory structure.")
            sys.exit(-1)
        else:
            pass

    elif categorySearch[1] == twoCategory or categorySearch[1] == oneCategory:
        if os.path.isdir(os.path.join(inputDirectory, inputName)):
            inputDirectory = os.path.join(inputDirectory, inputName)
        else:
            Logger.info("SEARCH: The directory passed is the root directory for category %s", categorySearch[1])
            Logger.info("SEARCH: We will try and determine which files to process, individually")
            root = 1
        if not inputCategory:
            Logger.info("SEARCH: Determined Category to be: %s", categorySearch[1])
            inputCategory = categorySearch[1]
    elif not inputCategory:
        Logger.error("SEARCH: Could not identify category from the directory structure")
        sys.exit(-1)
    else:
        Logger.info("SEARCH: The directory passed does not appear to include a category")
        root = 1
    return inputDirectory, inputCategory, root 
</code></pre>

<p>But the thing is the code isn't very dynamic and can be thrown off for example if I get a path like <code>/blah/blah/&lt;category&gt;/blah/blah</code></p>

<p>I'm looking for input on how to optimize this code, catch situations like above and perhaps more?</p>

<p>I'm pretty new at python so be gentle :) Thanks for help!</p>
