python - TypeError: %d format: a number is required, not getset_descriptor -

i trying code script finds out current date , time , creates folder name based on this. error when try run code:

typeerror: %d format: number required, not getset_descriptor

this code:

import os import time #import rpi.gpio gpio import logging import sys datetime import datetime d = datetime inityear = "%04d" % (d.year)  initmonth = "%02d" % (d.month)  initdate = "%02d" % (d.day) inithour = "%02d" % (d.hour) initmins = "%02d" % (d.minute)ion wish save files. set home default. # if run local web server on apache set /var/www/ make them # accessible via web browser. foldertosave = "/home/timelapse/timelapse_" + str(inityear) + str(initmonth) + str(initdate) +        str(inithour) + str(initmins) #os.mkdir(foldertosave) # set initial serial saved images 1 fileserial = 1 = 'timefile'  # run while loop of infinity while true:      if os.path.isfile(a) == false:     # set fileserialnumber 000x using 4 digits     fileserialnumber = "%04d" % (fileserial)     # capture current time (not start time set above) insert each capture image filename     hour = "%02d" % (d.hour)     mins = "%02d" % (d.minute)     # define size of image wish capture.     imgwidth = 800 # max = 2592     imgheight = 600 # max = 1944     print " ====================================== saving file @ " + hour + ":" + mins     # capture image using raspistill. set capture added sharpening, auto white balance , average metering mode     # change these settings see fit , suit conditions using camera in     os.system("raspistill -w " + str(imgwidth) + " -h " + str(imgheight) + " -o " + str(foldertosave) + "/" + str(fileserialnumber) + "_" + str(hour) + str(mins) +  ".jpg  -sh 40 -awb auto -mm average -v")     # increment fileserial     fileserial += 1     # wait 10 minutes before next capture     time.sleep(600) else:     os.remove(time.txt) os.system("sudo shutdown -h -p now") break print "quitting now." sys.exit(0) 

i think code has error here:

inityear = "%04d" 

the error seems around "%04d" part. suggestions or appreciated. in advance.

you not creating datetime instance here:

d = datetime 

that new reference datetime type. attributes d.year, d.month, etc. descriptors there, not values can interpolate:

>>> datetime import datetime >>> datetime.year <attribute 'year' of 'datetime.date' objects> >>> type(datetime.year) <type 'getset_descriptor'> >>> '%04d' % datetime.year traceback (most recent call last):   file "<stdin>", line 1, in <module> typeerror: %d format: number required, not getset_descriptor 

if wanted current timestamp, you'll need call datetime.now():

d = datetime.now() 

there better ways use datetime value in string. use datetime.strftime() method produce string format date:

formatted = d.strftime('%y%m%d%h%m') foldertosave = "/home/timelapse/timelapse_" + formatted 

or can use same formatting codes in str.format() interpolation:

foldertosave = "/home/timelapse/timelapse_{:%y%m%d%h%m}".format(d)