Why does python os.path.isfile return false on windows, for only a specific directory?

Question

On windows 7, when I run this Python 2.7 code, "NOT file" prints, but the file is there, its not read only, the folder is not read only, none of its parents are read only.

if os.path.exists('D:\testfiles\mysub\GraphiteController.js'):
    print "IS file"
else:
    print "NOT file"
sys.exit(1)

If I move the file to d:\myother directory, prints "IS file". If I move the file to d:\testfiles directory, prints "NOT file".

I tried this on another windows machine, same problem. Very strange.

Answer 1

It's because '\t' is a tab character. Use forward slashes in your paths or use raw strings:

if os.path.exists('D:/testfiles/mysub/GraphiteController.js'):

or

if os.path.exists(r'D:\testfiles\mysub\GraphiteController.js'):