File Operator: Personal Journal Manager

Overview

The File Operator project is a Python application that allows users to maintain a personal journal using text file handling. Users can add, view, search, and delete journal entries, with robust exception handling and a menu-driven interface. The project demonstrates Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles and proper file handling techniques.

Features

• Add new journal entries (with timestamp and user input)
• View all journal entries
• Search for entries by keyword or date
• Delete all journal entries (with confirmation)
• Exception handling for file errors and invalid input
• Menu-driven user interface

Learning Objectives

• Understand and implement file handling operations (read, write, append, etc.)
• Use different file modes (r, w, a, x) and explain their impact
• Perform I/O operations (reading from and writing to files)
• Handle exceptions such as FileNotFoundError, PermissionError, and others
• Apply OOP principles to structure the application

Project Requirements

• Operate only on text files (.txt)
• Store journal entries in a file named journal.txt
• Each entry must include a timestamp and user input
• Display clear error messages and guidance for invalid actions

Usage

1. Add a New Entry:
   • Users can write a new journal entry. The program appends the entry to journal.txt, creating the file if it does not exist.
2. View All Entries:
   • Display all journal entries from the file. If the file does not exist, prompt the user to add a new entry.
3. Search for an Entry:
   • Search for entries by keyword or date and display matching entries.
4. Delete All Entries:
   • Clear the journal by deleting the file. Prompt the user for confirmation before deleting.
5. Exit:
   • Exit the program from the main menu.

Example Console Interaction

Welcome to Personal Journal Manager!
Please select an option:
1. Add a New Entry
2. View All Entries
3. Search for an Entry
4. Delete All Entries
5. Exit

Add a New Entry:

Enter your journal entry:
Today was a productive day. I learned about file handling in Python.
Entry added successfully!

View All Entries:

Your Journal Entries:
-----------------------------
[2024-12-25 18:00:00]
Today was a productive day. I learned about file handling in Python.

[2024-12-24 18:00:00]
Had a great session on OOP concepts!

Search for an Entry:

Enter a keyword or date to search: productive
Matching Entries:
-----------------------------
[2024-12-25 18:00:00]
Today was a productive day. I learned about file handling in Python.

Delete All Entries:

Are you sure you want to delete all entries? (yes/no): yes
All journal entries have been deleted.

Handle File Not Found Error:

Error: The journal file does not exist. Please add a new entry first.

Invalid Input:

Invalid option. Please select a valid option from the menu.

Exit:

Thank you for using Personal Journal Manager. Goodbye!

Exception Handling

• Handles exceptions for invalid file operations (e.g., missing file, permission errors)
• Ensures the program does not crash due to unexpected user input or file handling issues
• Provides clear error messages and guidance

OOP Structure

• All functionality is encapsulated in a JournalManager class
• Uses instance methods for adding, reading, searching, and deleting entries

Assumptions

• Only text files are used for journal storage
• Journal entries are stored in journal.txt in the project directory
• The user interacts with the program via the console
• The program is intended for educational purposes and demonstrates OOP and file handling in Python

How to Run

1. Ensure you have Python 3.x installed.
2. Run the program:

   python project-6.py
   

3. Follow the on-screen menu instructions.

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