record_attendance.py

import csv
import os
from datetime import datetime

def record_attendance_new(present_students: list, subject: str):
    # Automatically get the current date in YYYY-MM-DD format
    date = datetime.now().strftime("%Y-%m-%d")

    # Create or open the CSV file based on the subject
    csv_file_path = f'{subject}.csv'

    # Check if the file exists
    if not os.path.exists(csv_file_path):
        # If the file doesn't exist, create it and add the date as the first column header
        with open(csv_file_path, 'w', newline='') as csvfile:
            writer = csv.writer(csvfile)
            writer.writerow(['Roll Number', date])  # Initialize with Roll Number as the first column
            for roll_number in present_students:
                writer.writerow([roll_number])  # Insert the roll numbers under the date column
    else:
        # If the file exists, open it and check the structure
        # Read the existing CSV file
        with open(csv_file_path, 'r', newline='') as csvfile:
            reader = csv.reader(csvfile)
            rows = list(reader)

        # Check if the date column already exists
        if date not in rows[0]:
            # Add a new date column if it doesn't exist
            rows[0].append(date)

        # Collect the index of the date column
        date_col_index = rows[0].index(date)

        # Update or add roll numbers for the given date
        for roll_number in present_students:
            # Check if the roll number already exists in the file
            found = False
            for row in rows[1:]:
                if row[0] == str(roll_number):  # Roll number matches
                    found = True
                    # If the roll number is found and the corresponding date cell is empty, fill it
                    if len(row) < date_col_index + 1:  # Extend the row if it doesn't have enough columns
                        row.extend([''] * (date_col_index - len(row) + 1))
                    if row[date_col_index] == '':
                        row[date_col_index] = 'Present'
                    break
            if not found:
                # If the roll number is not found, add a new row for this roll number
                new_row = [str(roll_number)] + [''] * (date_col_index - 1) + ['Present']
                rows.append(new_row)

        # Write the updated data back to the CSV file
        with open(csv_file_path, 'w', newline='') as csvfile:
            writer = csv.writer(csvfile)
            writer.writerows(rows)

    print(f"Attendance recorded for {len(present_students)} students on {date} in {subject}.")