Automated File Sorter for Large File Repositories

Introduction

File management is a universal struggle for anyone using a computer, especially when it comes to managing cluttered folders like the Downloads folder. Over time, these folders become filled with a chaotic mix of documents, images, audio files, videos, and more, making it difficult to locate specific files.

This problem inspired the creation of Automated File Sorter, a Python script designed to bring order to your unorganized folders. It efficiently scans through all the files, identifies their type based on the file format, and moves them into categorized folders such as Documents, Images, Videos, and more. For unknown or uncommon file formats, it creates an "Others" folder.

Features

• File Categorization: Automatically sorts files into predefined categories such as Documents, Images, Audio, Video, etc.
• Handles Missing Folders: Creates categorized folders only if they don't already exist.
• Ignores Existing Folders: Ensures existing categorized folders are not mistakenly processed.
• Fallback for Unknown Formats: Moves unrecognized file types to an "Others" folder.
• Weekly Automation: A bash script runs the sorter weekly using a cron job.

File Types Supported

The script supports the following file types:

Categories and Extensions

Category	Extensions
Documents	pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf, odt
Spreadsheets	xls, xlsx, csv, ods
Presentations	ppt, pptx, odp
Images	jpg, jpeg, png, gif, bmp, tiff, svg, webp
Audio	mp3, wav, aac, ogg, flac
Video	mp4, avi, mkv, mov, wmv, flv, webm
Compressed Files	zip, rar, 7z, tar, gz
Executable Files	exe, msi, bat, sh, apk, jar
Code Files	py, java, js, html, htm, css, cpp, c, json, xml, php
Database Files	sql, db, sqlite, mdb, accdb
E-Books	epub, mobi, azw, ibooks
System Files	dll, sys, ini, log

Files not matching any of the above categories are moved to the Others folder.

How It Works

1. The script scans all files in the current directory.
2. For each file, it checks the extension and determines its category using a predefined dictionary of file formats.
3. It creates a folder for the category (if not already present) and moves the file into the appropriate folder.
4. Files without extensions or unsupported extensions are moved to the Others folder.

Case Study: Cleaning the Downloads Folder

Scenario:
Imagine your Downloads folder is a mess after weeks of downloading work files, images, movies, and software installers. Looking for a specific file feels like finding a needle in a haystack. This script automates the process of sorting those files into meaningful categories, saving you time and effort.

Outcome:
After running the script, your Downloads folder is transformed into an organized repository with folders like Documents, Images, Videos, and Compressed Files. You can now easily locate any file you need.

Usage

Prerequisites

• Python 3.x installed on your system.

Setup Instructions

Python Script

1. Copy the file_sorter.py script to the folder you want to organize.
2. Ensure you have Python 3 installed on your system.

Bash Script

1. Save the provided bash script as file_sorter_scheduler.sh.
2. Replace /path/to/your/folder in the script with the absolute path to your folder.
3. Run the following commands to make the bash script executable and initiate the sorter:

   chmod +x file_sorter_scheduler.sh
   ./file_sorter_scheduler.sh
   

Watch your files get organized into categorized folders!