Python os.path.join not working properly for network paths

Question

Any ideas why this will not join properly in Python 2.6 Win?

import os

myPath = "\\\\192.168.1.50\\Shared"
myPath2 = "\\Folder2"
myFile = "1.txt"

print os.path.join(myPath, myPath2, myFile)

Result:

\Folder2\1.txt

I was expecting the result to be "\\192.168.1.50\Shared\Folder2\1.txt" !

Answer 1

Join is a convenience function, it is not too intelligent. For example, it does not verify existence of paths, etc. It just follows some formal rules.

As of your question, remove extra slash in myPath2 definition.

import os

myPath = "\\\\192.168.1.50\\Shared"
myPath2 = "Folder2"
myFile = "1.txt"

print os.path.join(myPath, myPath2, myFile)

gives \\192.168.1.50\Shared\Folder2\1.txt

You will have same problem with ordinary paths:

import os

myPath = "C:\\Shared"
myPath2 = "\\Folder2"
myFile = "1.txt"

print os.path.join(myPath, myPath2, myFile)

gives \Folder2\1.txt

Answer 2

If any component is an absolute path, all previous components (on Windows, including the previous drive letter, if there was one) are thrown away, and joining continues.

I need to remove the slashes from the beginning of myPath2, otherwise it will be treeted as absolute path and myPath will be ignored!

import os

myPath = "\\\\192.168.1.50\\Shared"
myPath2 = "Folder2"
myFile = "1.txt"

print os.path.join(myPath, myPath2, myFile)

Result:

\\192.168.1.50\Shared\Folder2\1.txt