Create Python-based UI for file sorting

Creating a Python-based UI for file sorting can be done efficiently using Tkinter for the interface and Python’s built-in modules for file operations. Below is a complete example of a simple file sorting application that lets you:

• Select a source folder

• Select a destination folder

• Sort files by their extensions into folders inside the destination

python
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import os
import shutil
from tkinter import Tk, Label, Button, Entry, filedialog, messagebox, StringVar

class FileSorterApp:
    def __init__(self, master):
        self.master = master
        master.title("File Sorting Tool")

        self.source_path = StringVar()
        self.dest_path = StringVar()

        # Source folder selection
        Label(master, text="Source Folder:").grid(row=0, column=0, sticky="e", padx=5, pady=5)
        self.source_entry = Entry(master, width=50, textvariable=self.source_path)
        self.source_entry.grid(row=0, column=1, padx=5)
        Button(master, text="Browse", command=self.browse_source).grid(row=0, column=2, padx=5)

        # Destination folder selection
        Label(master, text="Destination Folder:").grid(row=1, column=0, sticky="e", padx=5, pady=5)
        self.dest_entry = Entry(master, width=50, textvariable=self.dest_path)
        self.dest_entry.grid(row=1, column=1, padx=5)
        Button(master, text="Browse", command=self.browse_destination).grid(row=1, column=2, padx=5)

        # Sort button
        Button(master, text="Sort Files", command=self.sort_files, width=20).grid(row=2, column=1, pady=20)

    def browse_source(self):
        folder_selected = filedialog.askdirectory()
        if folder_selected:
            self.source_path.set(folder_selected)

    def browse_destination(self):
        folder_selected = filedialog.askdirectory()
        if folder_selected:
            self.dest_path.set(folder_selected)

    def sort_files(self):
        source = self.source_path.get()
        dest = self.dest_path.get()

        if not source or not os.path.isdir(source):
            messagebox.showerror("Error", "Please select a valid source folder.")
            return
        if not dest or not os.path.isdir(dest):
            messagebox.showerror("Error", "Please select a valid destination folder.")
            return

        try:
            files = [f for f in os.listdir(source) if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(source, f))]
            if not files:
                messagebox.showinfo("Info", "No files found in the source folder.")
                return

            for file in files:
                ext = os.path.splitext(file)[1].lower().strip('.')
                if not ext:
                    ext = "no_extension"
                target_folder = os.path.join(dest, ext)
                if not os.path.exists(target_folder):
                    os.makedirs(target_folder)

                shutil.move(os.path.join(source, file), os.path.join(target_folder, file))

            messagebox.showinfo("Success", "Files sorted successfully!")

        except Exception as e:
            messagebox.showerror("Error", f"An error occurred: {e}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    root = Tk()
    root.geometry("700x150")
    app = FileSorterApp(root)
    root.mainloop()

How this works:

• You pick a source folder containing files to sort.

• You pick a destination folder where sorted folders will be created.

• The program moves each file into a folder named after its file extension (e.g., .jpg files go into a jpg folder).

• Files without an extension go into a no_extension folder.

• It uses basic Tkinter UI elements: Labels, Entry fields, Buttons, and file dialogs.

• It shows error and success messages with message boxes.

If you want, I can help you extend this with sorting by date, size, or other criteria.