Hold a file open exclusively, not even accessible for reading (Python)

open_exclusively.pas

Hold a file open exclusively, not even for reading (PowerShell)import os, win32file

while True:
    try:
        filename_and_path = input("Enter filename and path for the file to hold open exclusively: ")
        if not os.path.isabs(filename_and_path):
            # If relative path, convert it to an absolute path
            filename_and_path = os.path.abspath(filename_and_path)
        if os.path.exists(filename_and_path):
            break
        print("File not found. Please provide a valid filename.")
        continue
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        print()
        print("Keyboard interrupt. Exiting...")
        exit()
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print("File not found. Please provide a valid filename.")
        continue

try:
    # Open the file in exclusive mode
    handle = win32file.CreateFile(
        filename_and_path,
        win32file.GENERIC_READ,
        0,
        None,
        win32file.OPEN_EXISTING,
        win32file.FILE_ATTRIBUTE_NORMAL,
        None
    )
    try:
        print()
        print(f"Holding open, exclusively: {filename_and_path}")
        input("Press enter to continue...")
    finally:
        win32file.CloseHandle(handle)
except win32file.error as e:
    if e.winerror == 32:
        print(f"Error opening file: {e.strerror} ({e.winerror})")
        os.sys.exit(1)

The "easy" methods to lock a file exclusively (like doing the command C:> Pause > test.txt ), still permit reading. This script is mean to lock the file exclusively and prevent even reading.

Requires the pywin32 module.

For the equivalent of this script, but in PowerShell see:

https://gist.github.com/sgornick/d6072ef254bfe58f18ffd53b78ae0e7a