Validating whether shapefile exists using ArcPy?

Question

I am very new to Python and am trying to complete my final project with not a lot of success.

My code works without functions, the problem is I need it to work with functions. In the main(): function I want the user to enter an .shp file path. Then I have an isValid(inPath): function that I want to call the file path the user entered and validate if the file exists. I have done this in many assignments before with .csv and .gpx files, but I am not having success with .shp files. When I keep everything under the main function, it works no problem.

Here is my code currently:

**# Import Modules:**
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy import mapping
import os.path
**# Set workspace**
env.workspace = #this is where I set my workspace
env.overwriteOutput = True
**# Checks if shapefile is valid**
def isValid(inPath):
 if arcpy.Exists(inPath):
 print 'Exists'
 else:
 print ' Does NOT exist'
def main():
 shpFile = raw_input("Enter a Map Document path: ") # User inputs a shapefile
 shpFile = shpFile.replace("\\","/") #replaces backslashes with forward slashes

Answer 1

It's not working because your not calling it :)

Try something like this

def isValid(inPath):
 if arcpy.Exists(inPath):
 print 'Exists'
 else:
 print ' Does NOT exist'
def main():
 shpFile = raw_input("Enter a Map Document path: ") # User inputs a shapefile
 shpFile = shpFile.replace("\\","/") #You shouldn't need to do this
 isValid(shpFile)

but really isValid should return something not just print values:

def isValid(inPath):
 return arcpy.Exists(inPath)
def main():
 shpFile = raw_input("Enter a Map Document path: ") # User inputs a shapefile
 shpFile = shpFile.replace("\\","/") #You shouldn't need to do this
 if isValid(shpFile):
 print "YAY"