helpers.py

#!python3

from os.path import isfile
import glob, time

def getFiles(arg):
    ''' Checks that the file(s) passed as a string actually exist, and
     returns it/them as a list. '''
    if isfile(arg):
        return [arg]
    else:
        files = [file for file in glob.glob(arg) if isfile(file)]
    if len(files) >= 0:
        return files
    else:
        print(file, 'was not found')
        return []

def parseDate(string):
    ''' Converts a string in the format DDMMYYYY to a format used by the
     `time` library. '''
    try:
        return time.strptime(string, '%d%m%Y')
    except ValueError as e:
        print(e)

def parseTime(string):
    ''' Converts a string in the format HHMMSS to a format used by the 
    `time` library. '''
    try:
        return time.strptime(string, '%H%M%S')
    except ValueError as e:
        print(e)

def setPlatform(val):
    ''' Checks whether the machine is running Linux or Windows. If it's not
    running Linux or Windows, it returns 'E' for "Error". '''
    if val == 'Linux':
        return 'L'
    elif val == 'Windows':
        return 'W'
    else:
        return 'E'

def makeList(argv, args):
    ''' Converts the arguments given to this program into a formatted list 
    for easier execution. '''
    masterExecutionList = []
    # set some important variables...
    trimCount = 0
    replaceCount = 0
    numberCount = 0
    dateCount = 0
    timeCount = 0

    ''' loop through sys.argv, building a list of execution commands, tupled 
    with their parameters'''
    for cmd in argv:
        if cmd in ('-l', '--lower'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('lower', None))

        elif cmd in ('-u', '--upper'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('upper', None))

        elif cmd in ('-d', '--delete'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('delete', None))

        elif cmd in ('-dt', '--touch'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('touch', None))

        elif cmd in ('-t', '--trim'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('trim', args.trim[trimCount][0]))
            trimCount += 1

        elif cmd in ('-r', '--replace'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('replace', args.replace[replaceCount])) 
            replaceCount += 1 # keep track of what repeat we've found for lookup

        elif cmd in ('-n', '--number'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('countstring', \
                args.number[numberCount][0]))
            numberCount += 1

        elif cmd in ('-D', '--date'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('date', args.date[dateCount][0]))
            dateCount += 1

        elif cmd in ('-T', '--time'):
            masterExecutionList.append(('time', args.time[timeCount][0]))
            timeCount += 1

    return masterExecutionList