How to create a Folder/File Dialog?

Question

So I need to allow the user of my script to choose a directory that contains images, and then run my script on each image. I already have my script made here. I looked at this question already, but that is about exporting, not importing.

It should look like this:

And should allow the user to choose the directory.

Thanks!

Answer 1

For directories or file paths on any panel it's key using a StringProperty. In order to get a File Dialog instead of a Folder Dialog, set its subtype from DIR_PATH to FILE_PATH.

path = StringProperty(
        name = "",
        description="Choose a directory:",
        default="",
        maxlen=1024,
        subtype='DIR_PATH')

As of Blender 2.8x properties should be assigned using a single colon :

path : StringProperty(
        name = "",
        description="Choose a directory:",
        ...
        subtype='DIR_PATH')

---

Following example adds a Folder Dialog to the Tool Shelf and prints the path to the console.

Blender 2.8x Update

import bpy

from bpy.props import (StringProperty,
                       PointerProperty,
                       )

from bpy.types import (Panel,
                       Operator,
                       AddonPreferences,
                       PropertyGroup,
                       )


# ------------------------------------------------------------------------
#    Scene Properties
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------

class MyProperties(PropertyGroup):

    path : StringProperty(
        name="",
        description="Path to Directory",
        default="",
        maxlen=1024,
        subtype='DIR_PATH')

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------
#    Panel in Object Mode
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------

class OBJECT_PT_CustomPanel(Panel):
    bl_idname = "OBJECT_PT_my_panel"
    bl_label = "My Panel"
    bl_space_type = "VIEW_3D"   
    bl_region_type = "UI"
    bl_category = "Tools"
    bl_context = "objectmode"

    def draw(self, context):
        layout = self.layout
        scn = context.scene
        col = layout.column(align=True)
        col.prop(scn.my_tool, "path", text="")

        # print the path to the console
        print (scn.my_tool.path)

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------
#    Registration
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------

classes = (
    MyProperties,
    OBJECT_PT_CustomPanel
)

def register():
    from bpy.utils import register_class
    for cls in classes:
        register_class(cls)

    bpy.types.Scene.my_tool = PointerProperty(type=MyProperties)

def unregister():
    from bpy.utils import unregister_class
    for cls in reversed(classes):
        unregister_class(cls)
    del bpy.types.Scene.my_tool


if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

Blender 2.7x

import bpy

from bpy.props import (StringProperty,
                       PointerProperty,
                       )

from bpy.types import (Panel,
                       Operator,
                       AddonPreferences,
                       PropertyGroup,
                       )

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------
#    UI (settings Class, Panel in Object Mode)
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------

class MySettings(PropertyGroup):

    path = StringProperty(
        name="",
        description="Path to Directory",
        default="",
        maxlen=1024,
        subtype='DIR_PATH')

class OBJECT_PT_my_panel(Panel):
    bl_idname = "OBJECT_PT_my_panel"
    bl_label = "My Tool"
    bl_space_type = "VIEW_3D"
    bl_region_type = "TOOLS"
    bl_category = "Tools"
    bl_context = "objectmode"

    def draw(self, context):
        layout = self.layout
        scn = context.scene
        col = layout.column(align=True)
        col.prop(scn.my_tool, "path", text="")

        # print the path to the console
        print (scn.my_tool.path)

# ------------------------------------------------------------------------
#    Registration
# ------------------------------------------------------------------------

def register():
    bpy.utils.register_module(__name__)
    bpy.types.Scene.my_tool = PointerProperty(type=MySettings)

def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_module(__name__)
    del bpy.types.Scene.my_tool

if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

---

To collect all images in a folder use os.listdir() to return a list containing the files in the folder and make sure that the file type is correct. Simplest way is using a list comprehension:

import os

# path to the folder
path = '/home/user/Desktop/'

# collect all OpenExr files
exr_list = [f for f in os.listdir(path) if f.endswith('.exr')] 

# iterate through the list
for i in exr_list:
    print(os.path.join(path,i))

---

For more details about Property Appearance as well as on how to create Custom Interfaces, have a look into: How to create a custom UI?