Detecting Excel File Changes in SharePoint with Python
The Problem: You have a critical Excel file stored in SharePoint and need to know if someone has edited it. Manually checking the file's modification date can be tedious.
The Solution: Python can automate this process by interacting with the SharePoint REST API to retrieve the file's metadata, including its last modified date.
Scenario: Imagine you have a project budget file stored in SharePoint and need to be notified if anyone makes changes.
Original Code (Using Python requests library):
import requests
import datetime
# SharePoint site URL and file path
site_url = "https://your_site.sharepoint.com/sites/your_site"
file_path = "/Shared Documents/budget.xlsx"
# Authentication (replace with your actual credentials)
username = "your_username"
password = "your_password"
# Build the REST API request
url = f"{site_url}/_api/web/GetFileByServerRelativeUrl('{file_path}')/listItemAllFields"
headers = {"Accept": "application/json;odata=verbose"}
# Make the API request
response = requests.get(url, auth=(username, password), headers=headers)
# Check for successful response
if response.status_code == 200:
# Extract the modified date
modified_date_str = response.json()["d"]["Modified"]
modified_date = datetime.datetime.strptime(modified_date_str, "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ")
# Print the modified date
print(f"File last modified on: {modified_date}")
# Perform further actions (e.g., send notification)
# ...
else:
print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")
Analysis:
- This code uses the
requestslibrary to interact with SharePoint's REST API. - The API endpoint
_api/web/GetFileByServerRelativeUrl(...)is used to fetch the file's metadata. - The
Modifiedfield in the response provides the last modification date. - You'll need to replace the
site_url,file_path,username, andpasswordwith your actual SharePoint details. - The code parses the modified date string into a datetime object for easier processing.
- You can then use this information to trigger notifications or perform other actions when the file is edited.
Further Insights:
- This method only checks for modifications at a specific point in time. To continuously monitor changes, you can use scheduling tools or build a more complex system that periodically fetches the file's metadata.
- For more robust authentication, consider using OAuth 2.0 or other authentication methods supported by SharePoint.
- The code can be integrated into larger scripts or applications to automate tasks based on file changes.
Benefits:
- Automation: Eliminates the need for manual checking of file modification dates.
- Real-time Updates: Provides immediate information about any changes made to the file.
- Flexibility: Can be easily integrated into other workflows or scripts.
Additional Resources:
- SharePoint REST API Documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/spfx/web-parts/get-started/using-the-sharepoint-rest-api
- Python Requests Library Documentation: https://requests.readthedocs.io/en/master/
This approach empowers you to monitor critical files in SharePoint with Python, providing real-time insights and automating crucial processes.
