Python Downloads Folder Sorter

• creates folders specified in .env file
• sorts them according to extensions assigned to folder in .env file
• you can determine the time of refreshing script (checking for new files in your downloads folder)

How to make this script run on start-up on MacOS

STEP 1: intall all requirements required for this script to run properly

pip install -r requirements.txt

• NOTE: You have to be in script folder

STEP 2: you have to create a .plist file in ~/Library/LaunchAgents/

echo '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>\n<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">\n<plist version="1.0">\n<dict>\n    <key>Label</key>\n    <string>com.user.yourscript</string>\n    <key>ProgramArguments</key>\n    <array>\n        <string>/usr/bin/python3</string>\n        <string>/path/to/your/script.py</string>\n    </array>\n    <key>RunAtLoad</key>\n    <true/>\n</dict>\n</plist>' > ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.user.downloads_filter.plist 

• You have to repalce the /path/to/your/script.py and /usr/bin/python3 (if you're not using default python version)

• Then accept any permissions popup's

How set-up the script for yourself's preferences

All preferences and settings are stored in .env file and you can change them to fulfill your needs

• DOWNLOADS_PATH - path to the folder you want to sort

• REFRESH_TIME_SPAN - time [in minutes] for another refresh to occur

• FOLDER_NAMES - folder names that you want to create/operate for sorting (they must be separated with , -> ! without spaces)

• FILTER_EXTENSTIONS - filters must be separated by / and contain no spaces and folders filters separator is |

  • NOTE: .env file has to contain same amount of folder names and filters extensions separated by | to work properly
  • Folder containing rest not sorted extensions should be placed on the end of the FOLDER_NAMES list
  • Extension for rest folder should be set as ALL_OTHER
  • Proper example of .env file you can see in repository

How to make this script run on start-up on Windows

STEP 1: intall all requirements required for this script to run properly

pip install -r requirements.txt

• NOTE: You have to be in script folder

STEP 2: you have to create a .bat file

@echo off
C:\path\to\your\script.py
pause

• replace path\to\your\script.py with actual path to this script on your system

STEP 3: find the Path to Your Startup Folder

• for the current user's Startup folder, the path is usually C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup.
• replace YourUsername with your actual Windows username

STEP 4: run in cmd command down below to copy .bat file to use this script on start-up

copy C:\path\to\run_script.bat "C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup"

• C:\path\to\run_script.bat change this to actual script path
• [YourUsername] change this to your username