Merging and Sorting Files - Python Programming Exercise

import os

def sort_content(file_contents, is_numeric=False):
    """Sorts the content of the file. If the content is numeric, it sorts numerically; else, alphabetically."""
    try:
        if is_numeric:
            # Sort numerically by converting content to integers
            file_contents.sort(key=lambda x: float(x.strip()))
        else:
            # Sort alphabetically
            file_contents.sort()
    except ValueError:
        print("Error: Could not sort numerically. Ensure all lines are numeric.")
        raise
    return file_contents

def read_file(file_name):
    """Reads the content of a file and returns it as a list of lines."""
    try:
        with open(file_name, 'r') as file:
            content = file.readlines()
        return content
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print(f"Error: The file '{file_name}' was not found.")
        raise
    except PermissionError:
        print(f"Error: Permission denied to read the file '{file_name}'.")
        raise

def merge_and_sort(files, output_file, is_numeric=False):
    """Merges the content of multiple files, sorts it, and writes the result to an output file."""
    all_contents = []
    
    # Read contents from all input files
    for file in files:
        try:
            content = read_file(file)
            all_contents.extend(content)
        except (FileNotFoundError, PermissionError):
            continue  # Skip files that couldn't be read

    # Sort the content
    sorted_content = sort_content(all_contents, is_numeric)
    
    # Write the sorted content to the output file
    try:
        with open(output_file, 'w') as out_file:
            out_file.writelines(sorted_content)
        print(f"Successfully written the sorted content to '{output_file}'.")
    except PermissionError:
        print(f"Error: Permission denied to write to the file '{output_file}'.")
        raise

def main():
    """Main function to handle input and output files, and sorting type (numeric or alphabetical)."""
    # Input: List of files to be merged and sorted
    files = input("Enter the file names to merge (comma separated): ").split(',')
    files = [file.strip() for file in files]  # Clean up the file names

    # Output: Name of the output file
    output_file = input("Enter the name of the output file: ").strip()

    # Determine whether the content should be sorted numerically or alphabetically
    file_type = input("Should the content be sorted numerically (yes/no)? ").strip().lower()
    is_numeric = file_type == 'yes'

    try:
        merge_and_sort(files, output_file, is_numeric)
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

# Run the program
if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

 Output

Enter the file names to merge (comma separated): file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt
Enter the name of the output file: merged_sorted.txt
Should the content be sorted numerically (yes/no)? yes
Successfully written the sorted content to 'merged_sorted.txt'.

Enter the file names to merge (comma separated): file1.txt, file2.txt, file3.txt
Enter the name of the output file: merged_sorted.txt
Should the content be sorted numerically (yes/no)? no
Successfully written the sorted content to 'merged_sorted.txt'.