Re: Retrieving information from a plain text file (WinXP/py2.6.2/Beginner)

[Katt-3]

Hello all,

Thank you all for your help.  I appreciate it alot.

I have been trying to work with file IO alot recently and would like to
improve my little program so that I no longer use a hard coded list, but a
text file that I can edit easily.

The text file is three lines long and looks exactly like this:

Reminder1,2009_10_28
Reminder2,2009_11_01
Reminder3,2009_11_15

My program consists of the following code:
============
#]------------------[import modules]------------------[
from time import strftime, mktime, localtime
from WConio import textcolor
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
#]------------------[define functions]------------------[
def read_reminders():
    print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
    text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
    reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
    text_file.close()
    print reminders
#
def get_computer_date():
    #Get today's date from the computer
    todays_date = strftime("%Y_%m_%d")
    return todays_date
#
def color_print(strings):
    #Change the text color in the WinXP dos shell
    #The way to use:
    #color_print([("string",color number),\
    #(str(variable),color number),(etc)])
    for string in strings:
        textcolor(string[1])
        print string[0],
#
def change_to_julian(reminder_date):
    #Receives the year, month, and day
    #in the form of a single string (2009_10_15)
    #and changes it into three different int
    #variables.  Then take those three variables
    #and append six zeros and change into a
    #julian date.
    date = []
    date = reminder_date.split("_")
    year = int(date[0])
    month = int(date[1])
    day = int(date[2])
    timetuple = (year, month, day) + ( (0,) * 6 )
    unixtime = mktime(timetuple)
    timetuple = localtime(unixtime)
    print days_left(timetuple[7])
    # [7] is the number of julian-date field of
    #the unixtime tuple.
    return days_left(timetuple[7])
#
def days_left(julian_date):
    #This function calculates the days left
    #until a reminder.  If the days left are
    #greater than 0 it will print normally.
    #If it is -1 then it will print differently.
    #Also if it is greater than -1 it will print
    #yet again differently.
    days_until_reminder = julian_date - localtime().tm_yday
    if days_until_reminder > 0:
        color_print ([("There are",7),(str(days_until_reminder),4),("days
left until this reminder.",7),("\n",7)])
    elif days_until_reminder == -1:
        color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("day!",4),("\n",7)])
        color_print
[("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
    else:
        color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("days!",4),("\n",7)])
        color_print
[("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
print
#
def compare_reminders(todays_date):
    #This function compares the reminders
    #to the computer date.
    #It has three different paths:
    # 1.Matches today's date
    # 2.The reminder date has already
    #  passed by
    # 3.The reminder date is yet to
    #  come.
    #After determining which it is it will
    #access the change_to_julian and
    #days_left functions.
    #reminders.sort()
    color_print ([("
[-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
    index = 0
    while index < len(reminders):
        if todays_date == reminders[index][1]:
            print
            color_print
[("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
            print "Today's reminder is:
",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
            color_print ([("\t\tTake care of this reminder
immediately",2),("\n",7)])
        elif todays_date > reminders[index][1]:
            print
            print "Whoops, you missed the following
reminder.",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
            change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
        else:
            print
            print "Your upcoming reminders are:
",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
            change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
        index = index + 1
    color_print ([("
[-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
#]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
read_reminders()
print reminders
compare_reminders(get_computer_date())
pause_it = raw_input("Press a key to end: ")
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
============
Could someone explain to me why my read_reminders function retrieves the
information, but cannot process that information?

When I try and run the program I get the following error message:
============
Reading text file into program: reminders.txt
[['Reminder1,2010_10_15'], ['Reminder2,2010_11_01'],
['Reminder3,2010_11_15']]
Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "reminders.py", line 182, in <module>
        print reminders
NameError: name 'reminders' is not defined
============

Thanks in advance for your help,

Katt

_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[vince spicer]

On Sun, Nov 1, 2009 at 5:37 PM, Katt <the_only_katala@...> wrote:

Hello all,

Thank you all for your help.  I appreciate it alot.

I have been trying to work with file IO alot recently and would like to improve my little program so that I no longer use a hard coded list, but a text file that I can edit easily.

The text file is three lines long and looks exactly like this:

Reminder1,2009_10_28
Reminder2,2009_11_01
Reminder3,2009_11_15

My program consists of the following code:
============
#]------------------[import modules]------------------[
from time import strftime, mktime, localtime
from WConio import textcolor
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
#]------------------[define functions]------------------[
def read_reminders():
  print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
  text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
  reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
  text_file.close()
  print reminders
#
def get_computer_date():
  #Get today's date from the computer
  todays_date = strftime("%Y_%m_%d")
  return todays_date
#
def color_print(strings):
  #Change the text color in the WinXP dos shell
  #The way to use:
  #color_print([("string",color number),\
  #(str(variable),color number),(etc)])
  for string in strings:
      textcolor(string[1])
      print string[0],
#
def change_to_julian(reminder_date):
  #Receives the year, month, and day
  #in the form of a single string (2009_10_15)
  #and changes it into three different int
  #variables.  Then take those three variables
  #and append six zeros and change into a
  #julian date.
  date = []
  date = reminder_date.split("_")
  year = int(date[0])
  month = int(date[1])
  day = int(date[2])
  timetuple = (year, month, day) + ( (0,) * 6 )
  unixtime = mktime(timetuple)
  timetuple = localtime(unixtime)
  print days_left(timetuple[7])
  # [7] is the number of julian-date field of
  #the unixtime tuple.
  return days_left(timetuple[7])
#
def days_left(julian_date):
  #This function calculates the days left
  #until a reminder.  If the days left are
  #greater than 0 it will print normally.
  #If it is -1 then it will print differently.
  #Also if it is greater than -1 it will print
  #yet again differently.
  days_until_reminder = julian_date - localtime().tm_yday
  if days_until_reminder > 0:
      color_print ([("There are",7),(str(days_until_reminder),4),("days left until this reminder.",7),("\n",7)])
  elif days_until_reminder == -1:
      color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("day!",4),("\n",7)])
      color_print [("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
  else:
      color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("days!",4),("\n",7)])
      color_print [("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
print
#
def compare_reminders(todays_date):
  #This function compares the reminders
  #to the computer date.
  #It has three different paths:
  # 1.Matches today's date
  # 2.The reminder date has already
  #  passed by
  # 3.The reminder date is yet to
  #  come.
  #After determining which it is it will
  #access the change_to_julian and
  #days_left functions.
  #reminders.sort()
  color_print ([(" [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
  index = 0
  while index < len(reminders):
      if todays_date == reminders[index][1]:
          print
          color_print [("  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
          print "Today's reminder is: ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
          color_print ([("\t\tTake care of this reminder immediately",2),("\n",7)])
      elif todays_date > reminders[index][1]:
          print
          print "Whoops, you missed the following reminder.",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
          change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
      else:
          print
          print "Your upcoming reminders are: ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
          change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
      index = index + 1
  color_print ([(" [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
#]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
read_reminders()
print reminders
compare_reminders(get_computer_date())
pause_it = raw_input("Press a key to end: ")
#]--------------------------------------------------------[
============
Could someone explain to me why my read_reminders function retrieves the information, but cannot process that information?

When I try and run the program I get the following error message:
============
Reading text file into program: reminders.txt
[['Reminder1,2010_10_15'], ['Reminder2,2010_11_01'], ['Reminder3,2010_11_15']]
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "reminders.py", line 182, in <module>
      print reminders
NameError: name 'reminders' is not defined
============

Thanks in advance for your help,

Katt
_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

reminders is a local variable which is only available within you read_reminders function

you can return the results instead to be used elsewhere

EX:

def read_reminders():
  print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
  text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
  reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
  text_file.close()
  return reminders

#]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
reminders = read_reminders()
print reminders
compare_reminders(get_computer_date())

pause_it = raw_input("Press a key to end: ")
#]--------------------------------------------------------[

Vince

_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[Serdar Tumgoren]

Hi Katt,

It appears you did not return the list of reminders that you extracted
in the "read_reminders" function, but simply printed them from inside
that function.

If you modify your code as below to store the list in a variable
called "reminders", you  should be able to access the list in your
global namespace.

> def read_reminders():
>   print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
>   text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
>   reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
>   text_file.close()
>   print reminders
     return reminders

Also, on a side note, you can greatly improve the readability of your
code by using the triple-quote style for multi-line docstrings inside
functions (rather than the hash comment marks). I tend to use hash
marks for one-line/inline comments, since they can really become an
eyesore (at least IMHO) when used too liberally.

Also, Python's whitespace and code formatting conventions can handle a
lot of the "documentation" for you. For instance,  module imports are
typically always performed at the top of a script, so it's reasonable
to expect that others reading your code will understand you're
importing some modules.

Much of this spelled out in PEP's 8 (style guide) and 257 (doc strings):

http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/
http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0257/

HTH!

Serdar
_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[Dave Angel]

(Looks like maybe you hijacked another thread, instead of just creating
a new message, with new topic, for the list)

Katt wrote:

> <div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed">Hello all,
>
> Thank you all for your help.  I appreciate it alot.
>
> I have been trying to work with file IO alot recently and would like
> to improve my little program so that I no longer use a hard coded
> list, but a text file that I can edit easily.
>
> The text file is three lines long and looks exactly like this:
>
> Reminder1,2009_10_28
> Reminder2,2009_11_01
> Reminder3,2009_11_15
>
> My program consists of the following code:
> ============
> #]------------------[import modules]------------------[
> from time import strftime, mktime, localtime
> from WConio import textcolor
> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
> #]------------------[define functions]------------------[
> def read_reminders():
>    print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
>    text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
>    reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
>    text_file.close()
>    print reminders
> #
> def get_computer_date():
>    #Get today's date from the computer
>    todays_date = strftime("%Y_%m_%d")
>    return todays_date
> #
> def color_print(strings):
>    #Change the text color in the WinXP dos shell
>    #The way to use:
>    #color_print([("string",color number),\
>    #(str(variable),color number),(etc)])
>    for string in strings:
>        textcolor(string[1])
>        print string[0],
> #
> def change_to_julian(reminder_date):
>    #Receives the year, month, and day
>    #in the form of a single string (2009_10_15)
>    #and changes it into three different int
>    #variables.  Then take those three variables
>    #and append six zeros and change into a
>    #julian date.
>    date = []
>    date = reminder_date.split("_")
>    year = int(date[0])
>    month = int(date[1])
>    day = int(date[2])
>    timetuple = (year, month, day) + ( (0,) * 6 )
>    unixtime = mktime(timetuple)
>    timetuple = localtime(unixtime)
>    print days_left(timetuple[7])
>    # [7] is the number of julian-date field of
>    #the unixtime tuple.
>    return days_left(timetuple[7])
> #
> def days_left(julian_date):
>    #This function calculates the days left
>    #until a reminder.  If the days left are
>    #greater than 0 it will print normally.
>    #If it is -1 then it will print differently.
>    #Also if it is greater than -1 it will print
>    #yet again differently.
>    days_until_reminder = julian_date - localtime().tm_yday
>    if days_until_reminder > 0:
>        color_print ([("There
> are",7),(str(days_until_reminder),4),("days left until this
> reminder.",7),("\n",7)])
>    elif days_until_reminder == -1:
>        color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
> by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("day!",4),("\n",7)])
>        color_print [("  
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>
>    else:
>        color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
> by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("days!",4),("\n",7)])
>        color_print [("  
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>
> print
> #
> def compare_reminders(todays_date):
>    #This function compares the reminders
>    #to the computer date.
>    #It has three different paths:
>    # 1.Matches today's date
>    # 2.The reminder date has already
>    #  passed by
>    # 3.The reminder date is yet to
>    #  come.
>    #After determining which it is it will
>    #access the change_to_julian and
>    #days_left functions.
>    #reminders.sort()
>    color_print ([("
> [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
>
>    index = 0
>    while index < len(reminders):
>        if todays_date == reminders[index][1]:
>            print
>            color_print [("  
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>
>            print "Today's reminder is:
> ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>            color_print ([("\t\tTake care of this reminder
> immediately",2),("\n",7)])
>        elif todays_date > reminders[index][1]:
>            print
>            print "Whoops, you missed the following
> reminder.",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>            change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
>        else:
>            print
>            print "Your upcoming reminders are:
> ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>            change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
>        index = index + 1
>    color_print ([("
> [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
>
> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
> #]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
> read_reminders()
> print reminders
> compare_reminders(get_computer_date())
> pause_it = raw_input("Press a key to end: ")
> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
> ============
> Could someone explain to me why my read_reminders function retrieves
> the information, but cannot process that information?
>
> When I try and run the program I get the following error message:
> ============
> Reading text file into program: reminders.txt
> [['Reminder1,2010_10_15'], ['Reminder2,2010_11_01'],
> ['Reminder3,2010_11_15']]
> Traceback (most recent call last):
>    File "reminders.py", line 182, in <module>
>        print reminders
> NameError: name 'reminders' is not defined
> ============
>
> Thanks in advance for your help,
>
> Katt
>
>

The function read_reminders() doesn't return anything, so once it's
done, those reminder items are gone.  It printed them, then forgot them.

Similarly, compare_reminders() tries to work on reminders, when it was
not passed the data either.

You need to add a return statement to read_reminders(), and when you
call it, you need to save it somewhere.  Then you can pass it to the
compare_reminders() function so it has something to compare with.

Once you get that sorted out, another bug that's already apparent is
that you're trying to split the line on quotes, when it uses commas
between fields on each line.

DaveA

_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[Alan Gauld]

"Serdar Tumgoren" <zstumgoren@...> wrote

> Also, on a side note, you can greatly improve the readability of your
> code by using the triple-quote style for multi-line docstrings inside
> functions (rather than the hash comment marks). I tend to use hash
> marks for one-line/inline comments, since they can really become an
> eyesore (at least IMHO) when used too liberally.

I'd second that suggestion with the added benefit that if you use
docstrings they will be detected by Pythons help() function.


--
Alan Gauld
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/

_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[Katt-3]

>> Hello all,
>>
>> Thank you all for your help.  I appreciate it alot.
>>
>> I have been trying to work with file IO alot recently and would like to
>> improve my little program so that I no longer use a hard coded list, but
>> a
>> text file that I can edit easily.
>>
>> The text file is three lines long and looks exactly like this:
>>
>> Reminder1,2009_10_28
>> Reminder2,2009_11_01
>> Reminder3,2009_11_15
>>
>> My program consists of the following code:
>> ============
>> #]------------------[import modules]------------------[
>> from time import strftime, mktime, localtime
>> from WConio import textcolor
>> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
>> #]------------------[define functions]------------------[
>> def read_reminders():
>>   print "\nReading text file into program: reminders.txt"
>>   text_file = open("reminders.txt","r")
>>   reminders = [line.strip().split("'") for line in text_file]
>>   text_file.close()
>>   print reminders
>> #
>> def get_computer_date():
>>   #Get today's date from the computer
>>   todays_date = strftime("%Y_%m_%d")
>>   return todays_date
>> #
>> def color_print(strings):
>>   #Change the text color in the WinXP dos shell
>>   #The way to use:
>>   #color_print([("string",color number),\
>>   #(str(variable),color number),(etc)])
>>   for string in strings:
>>       textcolor(string[1])
>>       print string[0],
>> #
>> def change_to_julian(reminder_date):
>>   #Receives the year, month, and day
>>   #in the form of a single string (2009_10_15)
>>   #and changes it into three different int
>>   #variables.  Then take those three variables
>>   #and append six zeros and change into a
>>   #julian date.
>>   date = []
>>   date = reminder_date.split("_")
>>   year = int(date[0])
>>   month = int(date[1])
>>   day = int(date[2])
>>   timetuple = (year, month, day) + ( (0,) * 6 )
>>   unixtime = mktime(timetuple)
>>   timetuple = localtime(unixtime)
>>   print days_left(timetuple[7])
>>   # [7] is the number of julian-date field of
>>   #the unixtime tuple.
>>   return days_left(timetuple[7])
>> #
>> def days_left(julian_date):
>>   #This function calculates the days left
>>   #until a reminder.  If the days left are
>>   #greater than 0 it will print normally.
>>   #If it is -1 then it will print differently.
>>   #Also if it is greater than -1 it will print
>>   #yet again differently.
>>   days_until_reminder = julian_date - localtime().tm_yday
>>   if days_until_reminder > 0:
>>       color_print ([("There are",7),(str(days_until_reminder),4),("days
>> left until this reminder.",7),("\n",7)])
>>   elif days_until_reminder == -1:
>>       color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
>> by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("day!",4),("\n",7)])
>>       color_print [("
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>>   else:
>>       color_print ([("\tYou have missed this reminder
>> by",4),(str(days_until_reminder*-1),4),("days!",4),("\n",7)])
>>       color_print [("
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>> print
>> #
>> def compare_reminders(todays_date):
>>   #This function compares the reminders
>>   #to the computer date.
>>   #It has three different paths:
>>   # 1.Matches today's date
>>   # 2.The reminder date has already
>>   #  passed by
>>   # 3.The reminder date is yet to
>>   #  come.
>>   #After determining which it is it will
>>   #access the change_to_julian and
>>   #days_left functions.
>>   #reminders.sort()
>>   color_print ([("
>> [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
>>   index = 0
>>   while index < len(reminders):
>>       if todays_date == reminders[index][1]:
>>           print
>>           color_print [("
>>  ------------------------------------------------------------------------",4),("\n",7)])
>>           print "Today's reminder is:
>> ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>>           color_print ([("\t\tTake care of this reminder
>> immediately",2),("\n",7)])
>>       elif todays_date > reminders[index][1]:
>>           print
>>           print "Whoops, you missed the following
>> reminder.",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>>           change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
>>       else:
>>           print
>>           print "Your upcoming reminders are:
>> ",reminders[index][0],"on",reminders[index][1]
>>           change_to_julian(reminders[index][1])
>>       index = index + 1
>>   color_print ([("
>> [-------------------------------------------------------------------------]",4),("\n",7)])
>> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
>> #]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
>> read_reminders()
>> print reminders
>> compare_reminders(get_computer_date())
>> pause_it = raw_input("Press a key to end: ")
>> #]--------------------------------------------------------[
>> ============
>> Could someone explain to me why my read_reminders function retrieves the
>> information, but cannot process that information?
>>
>> When I try and run the program I get the following error message:
>> ============
>> Reading text file into program: reminders.txt
>> [['Reminder1,2010_10_15'], ['Reminder2,2010_11_01'],
>> ['Reminder3,2010_11_15']]
>> Traceback (most recent call last):
>>   File "reminders.py", line 182, in <module>
>>       print reminders
>> NameError: name 'reminders' is not defined
>> ============
>>
>> Thanks in advance for your help,
>>
>> Katt
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
>
> #]-------------------[Main Program]-------------------[
> reminders = read_reminders()

This is the item that I was forgeting.  Originally I tried to use the
"return" in my function, but left out what I was returning.  However if I
did not notice this one line I would have continued to be stuck.  I guess I
thought all you would have to do is call the function and it would know to
make the return information into a global list.

===================================================
> It appears you did not return the list of reminders that you extracted
> in the "read_reminders" function, but simply printed them from inside
> that function.

Yes, originally I did this to find out how python would read the
information.  Kind of an error check type thing.

> called "reminders", you  should be able to access the list in your
> global namespace.

If I hadn't paid attention to the end of Vince's post I would have not
understood this as I am unfamiliar with some of the vocabulary (i.e.: global
namespace).

> Also, on a side note, you can greatly improve the readability of your
> code by using the triple-quote style for multi-line docstrings inside
> functions (rather than the hash comment marks). I tend to use hash
> marks for one-line/inline comments, since they can really become an
> eyesore (at least IMHO) when used too liberally.
>
> Also, Python's whitespace and code formatting conventions can handle a
> lot of the "documentation" for you. For instance,  module imports are
> typically always performed at the top of a script, so it's reasonable
> to expect that others reading your code will understand you're
> importing some modules.
>
> Much of this spelled out in PEP's 8 (style guide) and 257 (doc strings):
>
> http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0008/
> http://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0257/

I will make sure to check these out soon so that my comments are more
readable.

==============================================

> (Looks like maybe you hijacked another thread, instead of just creating
> a new message, with new topic, for the list)

Sorry, about that.  I got lazy and just replied to a tutor message I had in
my inbox.  Will make sure not to let that happen again.

> Once you get that sorted out, another bug that's already apparent is
> that you're trying to split the line on quotes, when it uses commas
> between fields on each line.

Missed that one.  Once I changed this everything clicked into place.

 Thank you Alan G.,Vince S., Serdar T., and Dave A. for your help.  I don't
think I woud have got this on my own.  It is true that sometimes you can't
see the answer when it is staring you in the face.

Thanks again,

Katt

_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor

[Alan Gauld]

"Katt" <the_only_katala@...> wrote

>> (Looks like maybe you hijacked another thread, instead of just creating
>> a new message, with new topic, for the list)
>
> Sorry, about that.  I got lazy and just replied to a tutor message I had
> in my inbox.  Will make sure not to let that happen again.

Looks like it happened again :-)
This post shows up in my newsreader as being part of the thread about
Evaluating a String Expression.

In this case you should have used Reply tonyour original message
then it would have been added to that thread.

The reason this is important (from the posters point of view) is that if
your message goes into the back of an existing thread many readers
may not bother looking at it since they have lost interest in the older
thread. If you want your message to be seen post a new thread for a
new topic, and reply to an existing thread when deakling with that topic
(so  that only those following the thread need to read that one).
Its a win-win scenario :-)

Alan G


_______________________________________________
Tutor maillist  -  Tutor@...
To unsubscribe or change subscription options:
http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor