Copying, moving, and deleting files in Intro to Computing - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the code to copy a file named 'data.txt' to 'backup.txt'.

Intro to Computing

copyfile('data.txt', [1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A'data.txt'

B'data_backup.txt'

C'backup_data.txt'

D'backup.txt'

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using the source file name as destination, which overwrites the file.

Using a wrong file name that doesn't match the task.

The copyfile function copies the source file to the destination file. Here, the destination should be 'backup.txt'.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the code to move a file 'report.doc' to the folder 'archive/'.

Intro to Computing

move('report.doc', [1])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A'report_archive.doc'

B'archive/report.doc'

C'archive/'

D'report.doc'

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using only the folder name without the file name.

Renaming the file incorrectly.

The move function moves the file to the new path. The destination must include the folder and the file name.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the code to delete the file 'temp.log'.

Intro to Computing

os.[1]('temp.log')

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Aremove

Bdelete

Cerase

Ddel

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'delete' or 'erase' which are not valid functions.

Using 'del' which is a Python keyword, not a function.

The correct function to delete a file in the os module is remove. Other options are not valid functions.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to copy 'image.png' to 'backup/image_backup.png' only if the file size is greater than 1000 bytes.

Intro to Computing

if os.path.getsize('image.png') [1] 1000:
    copyfile('image.png', [2])

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A>

B<

C'backup/image_backup.png'

D'image_backup.png'

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using '<' instead of '>' causing the condition to be wrong.

Using a destination path without the folder.

The condition checks if the file size is greater than 1000 bytes using '>'. The destination path for copying is 'backup/image_backup.png'.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to move all '.txt' files from 'docs/' to 'archive/' folder.

Intro to Computing

for file in os.listdir('docs/'):
    if file.endswith([1]):
        src = 'docs/' + file
        dst = [2] + file
        [3](src, dst)

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A'.txt'

B'archive/'

Cmove

Dcopyfile

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using 'copyfile' instead of 'move' causing files to be copied, not moved.

Forgetting the dot in '.txt' causing no files to match.

The code checks if files end with '.txt', sets the destination folder to 'archive/', and moves the files using the move function.

Practice

1. Which of the following best describes what happens when you copy a file on your computer?

easy

A. The file is renamed but stays in the same location.

B. The file is moved to a new location and removed from the original place.

C. The file is permanently removed from the computer.

D. A new file is created in the new location, and the original file stays where it is.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand copying

   Copying means making a duplicate file without deleting the original.

2. Step 2: Compare with other actions

   Moving removes the original, deleting removes permanently, renaming changes the name only.

3. Final Answer:

   A new file is created in the new location, and the original file stays where it is. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Copying duplicates file = A [OK]

Hint: Copying duplicates, original stays [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing copying with moving
• Thinking deleting is copying
• Believing renaming moves the file

2. Which command correctly moves a file named report.txt from the folder Documents to Archives in a command-line interface?

easy

A. move Documents/report.txt Archives/

B. copy Documents/report.txt Archives/

C. delete Documents/report.txt Archives/

D. rename Documents/report.txt Archives/

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the move command

   The command to move files is usually move (Windows) or mv (Unix).

2. Step 2: Check other commands

   copy duplicates, delete removes, rename changes name only.

3. Final Answer:

   move Documents/report.txt Archives/ -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Move command = move [OK]

Hint: Move command is 'move' or 'mv' [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using copy instead of move
• Using delete to move files
• Confusing rename with move

3. Consider this Python code snippet using the shutil module:

import shutil
shutil.copy('data.txt', 'backup/data.txt')
shutil.move('data.txt', 'archive/data.txt')

What will happen after running this code?

medium

A. 'data.txt' is deleted from both 'backup' and 'archive'.

B. 'data.txt' is moved to 'backup', then copied to 'archive'.

C. A copy of 'data.txt' is made in 'backup', then the original is moved to 'archive'.

D. An error occurs because you cannot copy and move the same file.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand shutil.copy()

   This creates a duplicate of 'data.txt' in 'backup' folder; original remains.

2. Step 2: Understand shutil.move()

   This moves the original 'data.txt' from current location to 'archive', removing it from original place.

3. Final Answer:

   A copy of 'data.txt' is made in 'backup', then the original is moved to 'archive'. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Copy then move = C [OK]

Hint: Copy duplicates, move transfers original [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking move duplicates file
• Assuming copy deletes original
• Believing both files are deleted

4. You wrote this command to delete a file:
del myfolder\file.txt
But you get an error saying the file is not found. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The file path is incorrect or the file does not exist.

B. The del command cannot delete files.

C. You need to copy the file before deleting it.

D. The file is already deleted, so the command fails.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check file path and existence

   If the file path is wrong or file missing, deletion fails with 'not found' error.

2. Step 2: Understand del command

   del deletes files; it works if file exists and path is correct.

3. Final Answer:

   The file path is incorrect or the file does not exist. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   File not found = wrong path or missing file [OK]

Hint: Check file path and existence first [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming del cannot delete files
• Trying to copy before deleting unnecessarily
• Ignoring file path correctness

5. You want to organize your photos by moving all files from Downloads to Pictures, but keep a backup copy in Backup. Which sequence of actions correctly achieves this?

hard

A. Move all files from Downloads to Pictures, then copy all files from Downloads to Backup.

B. Copy all files from Downloads to Backup, then move all files from Downloads to Pictures.

C. Delete all files from Downloads, then copy files from Backup to Pictures.

D. Copy all files from Pictures to Downloads, then move files from Backup to Pictures.

Solution

1. Step 1: Copy files to Backup

   Copying duplicates files to Backup folder, preserving originals in Downloads.

2. Step 2: Move files to Pictures

   Moving transfers files from Downloads to Pictures, removing them from Downloads.

3. Final Answer:

   Copy all files from Downloads to Backup, then move all files from Downloads to Pictures. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Copy backup first, then move original = B [OK]

Hint: Copy first to backup, then move originals [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Moving before copying loses original files
• Deleting files before backup
• Copying from wrong folders