generic scanner

rawinput.py

import os, datetime, time
yam = [] #init var
timestamp =  str(datetime.datetime.now().strftime('%I.%M.%S_%p')) + '.txt' #only once, filename ultimately
daystamp = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(time.time()).strftime('%Y-%m-%d') #name of folder to put files for today in

cwd = os.getcwd() #current working directory
opj = os.path.join #more magic - OS PATH JOIN = opj, for windows and linux compatibility

folderWithTodaysDate = opj(cwd, daystamp)  # folder to place all todays scans in

if os.path.exists(folderWithTodaysDate) == True: #If file w/ today's date exists, then continue the script.
	pass
else: #else create the directory with read/write/exe permissions.
	os.makedirs(folderWithTodaysDate, 0o666) #read/write permissions for creating files inside python created folder. For Win & Linux.

while True:
	yam.append(raw_input()) #stream input to append
	if(yam[-1]) == 'deleteprevious':
		del(yam[-2])
		del(yam[-1])#delete control word
	if(yam[-1]) == 'imfinished':
		del(yam[-1]) #dont print the imfinished bit
		quit()
	createFileInDateDirectory = str(opj(folderWithTodaysDate, timestamp)) #current file in progress, based on timestamp above
	with open(createFileInDateDirectory, 'a') as final:  #append that file every time you scan in case of system failure somewhere (batteries die)
		final.write(yam[-1] + '\n') #write the latest input
		final.close() #close it