Appending file contents to a new file
I'm just starting out with Python but I'm stuck already and can't proceed unless I understand how this works. I'm trying to append the contents of two files to a new file. Each of the two source files has only a few simple lines of text (words separated by spaces) with Unix line returns, but no commas or other delimiters (I will try to work with more complex files later).
I understand that these strings are read in as lists but cannot find a way to print lists that are read from a file. I tried using "for line in src1:" followed by a print statement but got a syntax error. My most recent attempt at a script is attached below. The errors are:
File "./test.py", line 11, in ?
print src1.read(output1)
TypeError: an integer is required
File "./test.py", line 12, in ?
src1.write(output1)
TypeError: argument 1 must be string or read-only character buffer, not list
I don't think I should need to define a method unless I'm trying to strip quotation marks, line returns or white spaces. Let me know what I'm missing, thanks
I understand that these strings are read in as lists but cannot find a way to print lists that are read from a file. I tried using "for line in src1:" followed by a print statement but got a syntax error. My most recent attempt at a script is attached below. The errors are:
File "./test.py", line 11, in ?
print src1.read(output1)
TypeError: an integer is required
File "./test.py", line 12, in ?
src1.write(output1)
TypeError: argument 1 must be string or read-only character buffer, not list
I don't think I should need to define a method unless I'm trying to strip quotation marks, line returns or white spaces. Let me know what I'm missing, thanks
#! /usr/bin/python
import string, sys, fileinput
src1=open('my_src1.txt', 'r')
output1 = src1.readlines()
src2=open('my_src2.txt', 'r')
output2 = src2.readlines()
dest = open( 'my_dest.txt', 'a' )
print src1.read(output1)
src1.write(output1)
src1.close()
print src2.read(output2)
src2.write(output2)
src2.close()
dest.close()
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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print src1.read(output1) is a pretty confused expression
You already read the file contents into output1. All you need is print output1.
src1.read() would return an empty string, since src1 is at end of file.
If you pass a parameter to read() it must be an integer, since that parameter is the # of bytes to read.
Also aim (in future questions) to omit inessential information (in this case the discussion of what is in the files).
I also suggest you read the tutorials in the topic area (in this case files) you are working in. The explanations and examples should help you get it right the first time.
Of course we are glad to help.
You already read the file contents into output1. All you need is print output1.
src1.read() would return an empty string, since src1 is at end of file.
If you pass a parameter to read() it must be an integer, since that parameter is the # of bytes to read.
Also aim (in future questions) to omit inessential information (in this case the discussion of what is in the files).
I also suggest you read the tutorials in the topic area (in this case files) you are working in. The explanations and examples should help you get it right the first time.
Of course we are glad to help.
ASKER
Thanks! I had read a number of tutorials, but the more I read, the more confused I got, so I could no longer see what information you really needed - it was good to just see an answer that works
ASKER
I ended up using a slightly modified form of the answer which I post here for reference / in case it helps anyone. This does add annoying ^M line returns, but I can remove those with sed.
#! /usr/bin/python
import string, sys, fileinput
src1 = open('header.dat', 'r')
output1 = src1.read()
src1.close()
src2 = open('sample.dat', 'r')
output2 = src2.readlines()
src2.close()
del output2[0:3+1]
dest = open('sample_form.dat', 'w')
dest.write(output1)
dest.writelines(output2)
dest.close()
How should that work?
and well if you have a list you have to walk the list and print the contents line by line or you may look is there's something like write_lines or the like to output a complete list.
Regards
Friedrich