Ubuntu – How to copy files from multiple directories, adding the parent folder’s name to the filename

bashbatch-renamecommand linescripts

I have been looking to all possible answers about "copying file from multiple directories to one single directory" but I cannot find my answer. I need something slightly more specific for my database treatment.

I have a similar question to:

copying files from multiple directory to another multiple directory

but how can I copy these files (they all have exactly the same name) to a new directory and add them the parent directory name, so that I can recognize from which directory they were copied ?

Yes I could copy and rename each of name one after the other, if I hadn't 100 of them 🙂

I tried loops with find . etc, but still, I cannot add the copied files the parents directory name.

I am still junior in this field, and so I am starting with regex. I guess there is something to do here with them, but I cannot figure out how exactly.

So, this is my question graphically. How to do that with a simple command, or a loop, on my unix terminal: 

DIR_a1 --> output_file.bam
DIR_a2 --> output_file.bam                              
DIR_a3 --> output_file.bam

Copy all output_files.bam in NEWDIR_output so that they appear with parent directory name: 

output_file_a1.bam
output_file_a2.bam                              
output_file_a3.bam

In advance, very thankful for any input

Best Answer

Copying files from a source- into a target directory, adding the containg folder's name to the file

The script below will copy files recursively from a source directory into a flat directory, adding the name of the (direct) superior directory to the file's name. The directory's name will be inserted before possible extension on the file, exacvtly like your example.

The script

#!/usr/bin/env python3
import os
import sys
import shutil

for root, dirs, files in os.walk(sys.argv[1]):
    for f in files:
        # split off the superior directory's name
        dirname = root.split("/")[-1]
        # define file+path, possible extension position
        src = os.path.join(root, f); spl = f.rfind(".")
        # defining new filename
        newname = f[:spl]+"_"+dirname + f[spl:] if spl != -1 else f+"_"+dirname
        # copy the file into the new directory
        shutil.copyfile(src, os.path.join(sys.argv[2], newname))

How to use

  1. Copy the script intyo an empty file, save it as copyandrename.py

  2. Run it with the source- and target directories as arguments:

    python3 /path/to/copyandrename.py <source_directory> <target_directory>

    My test command was e.g.

    python3 '/home/jacob/Bureaublad/pscript_4.py' '/home/jacob/Bureaublad/testmap' '/home/jacob/Bureaublad/target'

As always, please test on a sample first!

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