There might be another way but off the top of my head: #!/usr/bin/env python
def isbin(filename): fd=open(filename,'rb') for b in fd.read(): if ord(b) > 127: fd.close() return True fd.close() return False for f in ['/bin/bash', '/etc/passwd']: print "%s is binary: " % f, isbin(f) Of course this would detect unicode files as being binary and maybe that's not what you want. How are you thinking about doing it in perl exactly? On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:23:05 -0700 (PDT) ritu <ritu_bhandar...@yahoo.com> wrote: > Hi, > > I'm wondering if Python has a utility to detect binary content in > files? Or if anyone has any ideas on how that can be accomplished? I > haven't been able to find any useful information to accomplish this > (my other option is to fire off a perl script from within m python > script that will tell me whether the file is binary), so any pointers > will be appreciated. > > Thanks, > Ritu > -- > http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list -- Josh Dukes MicroVu IT Department -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list