python - Set Django's FileField to an existing file

Question

I have an existing file on disk (say /folder/file.txt) and a FileField model field in Django.

When I do

instance.field = File(file('/folder/file.txt'))
instance.save()

it re-saves the file as file_1.txt (the next time it's _2, etc.).

I understand why, but I don't want this behavior - I know the file I want the field to be associated with is really there waiting for me, and I just want Django to point to it.

How?

Answer 1

just set instance.field.name to the path of your file

e.g.

class Document(models.Model):
    file = FileField(upload_to=get_document_path)
    description = CharField(max_length=100)


doc = Document()
doc.file.name = 'path/to/file'  # must be relative to MEDIA_ROOT
doc.file
<FieldFile: path/to/file>