These tiny, simple files are derived from Zed Shaw's free online book _Learn Python the Hard Way_. These files accompany Zed's exercises 15 - 17. I wrote a quiz for students to test themselves - see the URL at the top of each file here. There are 4 Python files and 2 text files.

argv_test1.py

# see http://bit.ly/mmpython2 for the quiz 
# compare the way this runs to the way argv_test2.py runs 

# to run:
#          python argv_test1.py first.txt

from sys import argv
script, filename = argv

txt = open(filename)
print txt.read()
print "-" * 10
print filename
txt.close()

argv_test2.py

# see http://bit.ly/mmpython2 for the quiz 
# compare the way this runs to the way argv_test1.py runs 

# the filename you type must be the name of a file in the same folder with this file
# to run:
#          python argv_test2.py

print "Type the name of a text file." # e.g.  gators.txt 
filename = raw_input("> ")

txt = open(filename)
print txt.read()                      # comment this line out and run again. Compare 
print "-" * 10
print filename
txt.close()

argv_test3.py

# see http://bit.ly/mmpython2 for the quiz 

# CAREFUL - do not give the name of a file you want to keep 
# use a junk file only! Or name a file that does not exist 
# after you run this, check the folder conatining this file & check the contents of the junk file 

# to run:
#          python argv_test3.py junkfile.txt

from sys import argv
script, filename = argv

target = open(filename, 'w')
target.close()

argv_test4.py

# see http://bit.ly/mmpython2 for the quiz 

# to run:
#         python argv_test4.py gators.txt first.txt

from sys import argv
script, file1, file2 = argv

f1 = open(file1)
f2 = open(file2)

print '''
The length of %s is %d bytes, and the length of %s is %d bytes.
''' % (file1, len(f1.read()), file2, len(f2.read()))

f1.close()
f2.close()

first.txt

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

gators.txt

'Neath the Orange and Blue victorious 
Our love shall never fail.
There's no other name so glorious—
All hail, Florida, hail!