# monty.tempfile module

Temporary directory and file creation utilities.

## class monty.tempfile.ScratchDir(rootpath, create_symbolic_link=False, copy_from_current_on_enter=False, copy_to_current_on_exit=False, gzip_on_exit=False, delete_removed_files=True)

Bases: `object`

NOTE: With effect from Python 3.2, tempfile.TemporaryDirectory already implements much of the functionality of ScratchDir. However, it does not provide options for copying of files to and from (though it is possible to do this with other methods provided by shutil).

Creates a “with” context manager that automatically handles creation of temporary directories (utilizing Python’s build in temp directory functions) and cleanup when done. This improves on Python’s built in functions by allowing for truly temporary workspace that are deleted when it is done. The way it works is as follows:

1. Create a temp dir in specified root path.

2. Optionally copy input files from current directory to temp dir.

3. Change to temp dir.

4. User performs specified operations.

5. Optionally copy generated output files back to original directory.

6. Change back to original directory.

7. Delete temp dir.

Initializes scratch directory given a root path. There is no need to try to create unique directory names. The code will generate a temporary sub directory in the rootpath. The way to use this is using a with context manager. Example:

    with ScratchDir("/scratch"):
        do_something()

If the root path does not exist or is None, this will function as a simple pass through, i.e., nothing happens.

- Parameters

  - rootpath (str/Path) – Path in which to create temp subdirectories. If this is None, no temp directories will be created and this will just be a simple pass through.

  - create_symbolic_link (bool) – Whether to create a symbolic link in the current working directory to the scratch directory created.

  - copy_from_current_on_enter (bool) – Whether to copy all files from the current directory (recursively) to the temp dir at the start, e.g., if input files are needed for performing some actions. Defaults to False.

  - copy_to_current_on_exit (bool) – Whether to copy files from the scratch to the current directory (recursively) at the end. E .g., if output files are generated during the operation. Defaults to False.

  - gzip_on_exit (bool) – Whether to gzip the files generated in the ScratchDir before copying them back. Defaults to False.

  - delete_removed_files (bool) – Whether to delete files in the cwd that are removed from the tmp dir. Defaults to True

### SCR_LINK(_ = ‘scratch_link_ )