[Python-au] python library to discover file associations

[raf]

Mike Dewhirst wrote:

> I want to launch the system text editor with a known text file but I 
> don't know what that editor might be on which platform.
> 
> Is there a Python library which can discover the system text editor on 
> any platform?
> 
> TIA
> Mike

hi mike,

if you just want to launch the text editor rather than
identify it, you could try something like the following.
if you are just interested in windows, os.startfile()
is what you are looking for (rather than os.system()).

cheers,
raf

def display_file(filename, action='open'):
	'''Display the given filename in a separate application. On Windows
	platforms, the action parameter may be 'open' or 'print' and is passed
	to os.startfile() as an indication of what the separate application is
	to do with the file. On other platforms, it is ignored.'''
	cmd = none
	import os, sys
	if os.name == 'nt':
		os.startfile(filename, action)
	elif os.name == 'posix':
		if sys.platform == 'darwin':
			cmd = 'open'
		elif filename.lower[-4:] in ['.csv', '.xls', '.doc']:
			cmd = 'soffice'
		elif filename.lower[-4:] == '.pdf':
			cmd = 'evince'
		else:
			cmd = 'gedit'
		try:
			import subprocess
			subprocess.call([cmd, filename])
		except Exception, e:
			import traceback
			print('Failed to display %s: %s\n%s' % (filename, e, traceback.format_exc()))