使用shutil.move()指定不存在目标路径后文件丢失，求定位文件位置

Hey, let's figure out where your files ended up—this is a super common gotcha with shutil.move()!

The Short Answer #

Your files weren't actually "lost"—they just got renamed to a file named Docs in the current working directory where you ran your Python script. They no longer have their original .docx/.doc suffix, so they might look like unknown files at first glance.

Why This Happened #

Let's break down the behavior of shutil.move() in your scenario:

• When you pass a target path that doesn't exist (like "Docs"), shutil.move() doesn't automatically assume you meant a directory—it treats "Docs" as a new filename instead of a folder.
• So instead of moving the file into a non-existent Docs directory, it renames the source file to Docs and moves it to the folder you were in when you ran the script.

Example to Make It Clear #

Suppose:

• Your script runs from /home/you/workspace/
• Your source file is /home/you/files/notes.doc
• You execute shutil.move("/home/you/files/notes.doc", "Docs")

The end result? The file becomes /home/you/workspace/Docs—no .doc extension, but it's still the exact same Word file under the surface.

How to Get Them Back #

1. First, find the current working directory of your script:
   • If you still have the script, add print(os.getcwd()) at the top and run it again—it will show you exactly where the script was running from.
   • Or just think back to the folder you were in when you typed the command to run the Python script.
2. Navigate to that directory, look for a file named Docs (no extension).
3. Rename it back to its original name (e.g., notes.doc)—it will open normally like any other Word file.

How to Avoid This Mistake Next Time #

To explicitly tell shutil.move() you're targeting a directory (not a filename), add a trailing slash to the path:

shutil.move(os.path.join(root, f), "Docs/")  # The trailing slash signals this is a directory

Now, if the Docs directory doesn't exist, shutil.move() will throw an error instead of silently renaming your files—way safer!

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者mg520