file overwriting problem

Author: azhow

modules/experiment/experiment.py

@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ def run_ql(self, num_episodes, alpha, decay):
                      self.TABLE_INITIAL_STATE, MINI=self.mini, MAX=self.maxi, fixed=self.fixed)  # Change for "coupling" to use TABLE_FILL
 
         filename, path, headerstr = self.createStringArgumentsQL(len(self.drivers))
-        filename = filename + ".txt"
+        filename = appendTag(filename)
 
         if os.path.isdir(path) is False:
             os.makedirs(path)
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ def run_ga_ql(self, useQL, useInt, generations, population, crossover, mutation,
                          MAX=self.maxi, fixed=self.fixed)
 
         filename, path, headerstr = self.createStringArguments(useQL, useInt)
-        filename = filename + ".txt"
+        filename = appendTag(filename)
 
         ##creates file
         if os.path.isdir(path) is False:

modules/functions/functions.py

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import string
+import os
 from modules.experiment.classes import *
 
 def is_number(arg):
@@ -215,6 +216,20 @@ def nd(drivers, group_size):
     """
     return len(drivers) * group_size
 
+def appendTag(filenamewithtag):
+    """
+        Test if there isn't already a file with the desired name,
+        paralellization of experiments may result in filename conflict.
+    """
+    append_number = ''
+    while(os.path.isfile(filenamewithtag + append_number + ".txt")):
+        if(append_number == ''):
+            append_number = "-1"
+        else:
+            append_number = "-" + str(int(append_number[1:]) + 1)
+    filenamewithtag += append_number + ".txt"
+    return filenamewithtag
+
 # return a list with the K shortest paths for the given origin-destination pair,
 # given the lists of nodes and edges (this function was created to be called
 # externally by another applications)