WindowsError:[Error 123] When Replace in filename "%3" by ":"

Question

I am running this script:

import os

for filename in os.listdir("."):
    newname = filename.replace("%3",":")
    if newname != filename:
        os.rename(filename,newname)

which throws:

WindowsError: [Error 123] The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect:

Any idea why this happens?

thanks in advance

Answer 1

Windows files cannot contain the ':' character: (or any of \ / : * ? " < > | as they are reserved characters.)

Try:

import os

for filename in os.listdir("."):
    newname = filename.replace("%3","-")
    if newname != filename:
        os.rename(filename,newname)