Simple Python Code: Directory & File Structure Listing with Python and Tkinter

This Python code is a great starting point for creating more advanced search and analytics tools. By understanding the directory structure, you can build features like file searching, metadata extraction, and more.

The code is easy to understand and modify, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels. The recursive function efficiently lists all directories and files, providing a clear view of the directory structure. The Tkinter GUI allows for easy directory selection and dynamic resizing, enhancing user experience.

import os
import tkinter as tk
from tkinter import filedialog, scrolledtext

def list_files_and_directories(path, indent=""):
    try:
        items = os.listdir(path)
    except PermissionError:
        text_box.insert(tk.END, f"{indent}Permission Denied: {path}\n")
        return

    for item in items:
        item_path = os.path.join(path, item)
        if os.path.isdir(item_path):
            text_box.insert(tk.END, f"{indent}?? {item}\n")
            list_files_and_directories(item_path, indent + "    ")
        else:
            text_box.insert(tk.END, f"{indent}?? {item}\n")

def select_directory():
    directory = filedialog.askdirectory()
    if directory:
        # Clear the text box
        text_box.delete(1.0, tk.END)
        # Print the directory structure
        text_box.insert(tk.END, f"Root Directory: {directory}\n")
        list_files_and_directories(directory)

# Create the main window
root = tk.Tk()
root.title("Directory and File Treeview")

# Configure grid layout
root.grid_rowconfigure(1, weight=1)
root.grid_columnconfigure(0, weight=1)

# Create a button to select the directory
select_button = tk.Button(root, text="Select Directory", command=select_directory)
select_button.grid(row=0, column=0, pady=10, padx=10, sticky='ew')

# Create a scrolled text box to display the output
text_box = scrolledtext.ScrolledText(root, width=80, height=20)
text_box.grid(row=1, column=0, pady=10, padx=10, sticky='nsew')

# Run the application
root.mainloop()        

How It Works:

1. Importing Modules: The script imports necessary modules (os, tkinter, filedialog, and scrolledtext from tkinter).
2. Function list_files_and_directories: This function takes a directory path and an indentation string as arguments. It lists all items in the directory, and for each item, it checks if it is a directory or a file. If it is a directory, it recursively calls itself with an increased indentation. If it is a file, it simply inserts the file name into the text box.
3. Function select_directory: This function opens a directory selection dialog, clears the text box, and then calls the list_files_and_directories function to print the directory structure.
4. Main Window: A Tkinter window is created with a button to select the directory and a scrolled text box to display the directory structure. The grid layout is configured to ensure the text box stretches with the form when resizing the window.
5. Running the Application: The Tkinter main loop is started to run the application.

Happy coding!

Neven Dujmovic, October 2024

#Python #Tkinter