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@seanh
Created April 11, 2009 18:30
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Turn any string into a valid filename in Python.
def format_filename(s):
"""Take a string and return a valid filename constructed from the string.
Uses a whitelist approach: any characters not present in valid_chars are
removed. Also spaces are replaced with underscores.
Note: this method may produce invalid filenames such as ``, `.` or `..`
When I use this method I prepend a date string like '2009_01_15_19_46_32_'
and append a file extension like '.txt', so I avoid the potential of using
an invalid filename.
"""
valid_chars = "-_.() %s%s" % (string.ascii_letters, string.digits)
filename = ''.join(c for c in s if c in valid_chars)
filename = filename.replace(' ','_') # I don't like spaces in filenames.
return filename
@drjasonharrison
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Which Open Source License do you share this with?

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