Create Directory & File Path in R (2 Examples) | file.path() Function

This tutorial illustrates how to concatenate path components using the file.path function in the R programming language.

Table of contents:

1) Example 1: Create Directory Path Using file.path() Function

2) Example 2: Create File Path Using file.path() Function

3) Video & Further Resources

Let’s jump right to the examples…

Example 1: Create Directory Path Using file.path() Function

In Example 1, I’ll demonstrate how to create a directory path using the file.path function in R.

For this, we simply have to specify all elements of our path as character strings within the file.path function:

my_directory <- file.path("C:", "Users", "Joach", "Desktop")       # Create directory path
my_directory
# [1] "C:/Users/Joach/Desktop"

As you can see based on the previous output of the RStudio console, we have created a new data object called my_directory, which contains the path to a folder on our computer.

Note that this path was created in a platform-independent way, i.e. the file.path function provides proper operating system (OS) path format detection. The previous code works on Microsoft Windows, as well as on Apple macOS, and Linux.

Example 2: Create File Path Using file.path() Function

We can also use the file.path function to create a path to a specific file in a working directory.

Consider the following R code:

my_file <- file.path("C:", "Users", "Joach", "Desktop", "my_file.csv")  # Create file path
my_file
# [1] "C:/Users/Joach/Desktop/my_file.csv"

As you can see, we have created a new data object called my_file, which contains the path to a particular file.

Video & Further Resources

I have recently released a video on my YouTube channel, which illustrates the R syntax of this article. You can find the video below:

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Furthermore, you may read the other tutorials on this homepage.

You have learned in this article how to manage path components and construct a path using the file.path function in the R programming language. Let me know in the comments, if you have additional questions.

2 Comments. Leave new

siva rama sarma

January 13, 2023 3:24 pm

I need a help from you dear.
I have files, starting with for example P123455_James_johan_2022_01_13.jpg.
I want a program in R, where it should create a folder automatically with P123455 and inside that folder it should create another with folder with date mentioned in the above file. after creating the folder inside, the file should automatically moved into that folder.
Hope you would help me.

Joachim (Statistics Globe)

January 16, 2023 12:42 pm

Hey,

First, I would create a data object containing the character string without .jpg:

x <- "P123455_James_johan_2022_01_13.jpg"
x <- gsub(".jpg", "", x)
x
# [1] "P123455_James_johan_2022_01_13"

Then, I would split the different parts of the character string and save those parts as new data objects:

main_folder <- strsplit(x, "_")[[1]][1]
main_folder
# [1] "P123455"
 
sub_folder <- paste(strsplit(x, "_")[[1]][(length(strsplit(x, "_")[[1]]) - 2):length(strsplit(x, "_")[[1]])], collapse = "_")
sub_folder
# [1] "2022_01_13"
 
file_name <- paste0(paste(strsplit(x, "_")[[1]][2:3], collapse = "_"), ".jpg")
file_name
# [1] "James_johan.jpg"

Finally, I would use those data objects to create your folders and move your jpg files.

I hope that helps!

Joachim

Create Directory & File Path in R (2 Examples) | file.path() Function

Example 1: Create Directory Path Using file.path() Function

Example 2: Create File Path Using file.path() Function

Video & Further Resources

2 Comments. Leave new

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