Sort function: Python 2 v. Python 3

You can use the Python sort function to sort both lists of numbers and words. Note however that the syntax was changed in Python 3, so a script that worked in Python 2 will not work in Python 3.

In Python 2 the sorted() function will sort through data in an named set. The function follows print.

>>> a = [5, 1, 4, 3] >>> print sorted(a) [1, 3, 4, 5] >>> print a [5, 1, 4, 3]

. . . nice and easy. The named set remains in the same order.

However in Python 3, the sorted function has to be enclosed in parentheses after print.

>>> z = ['zebra', 'lion', 'giraffe', 'tiger', 'gazelle'] >>> print(sorted(z)) ['gazelle', 'giraffe', 'lion', 'tiger', 'zebra'] >>>

In either version text, has to be enclosed in quotes, but numbers do not.

Python script to read csv file and split onto new lines

Sam Allen has posted a good walk through here, which explains how to use Python to read a comma separated list in a text file.

Starting with a text file like this one:

. . . the file can be opened in Python and then analyzed. First the open command is used to open the file:

>>> f = open(r"C:\FooFolder\python\animals.txt", "r")

Sam's script contains a small error. The r is omitted before the file path. At least in version 3.4.2 of Python this must be included to access the file.

readlines is used to read each line in the file:

>>> for line in f.readlines():

strip is used to take out whitespace: line = line.strip()

print displays the line: print(line)

split up each line: parts = line.split(",")

display each line indented: for part in parts: print(" ", part)

The end result is:

tigers,giraffes,lions,zebra,elephants,dogs,cats,gazelles tigers giraffes lions zebra elephants dogs cats gazelles >>>

The complete script looks like this in Python IDLE

Use Python to create a comma delimited set

You can use the split function in Python to easily create a comma delimited set. If you have a divider to split upon, a script can substitute that divider with quotation marks and commas.

Follow these steps:

1. Name the set with the text you need to divide up.

>>> set1 = 'manchester england bristol england london england'

2. Use the split function with the divider designated in parentheses: >>> set1.split("england")

3. It will generate a nice comma delimited set. ['manchester ', ' bristol ', ' london ', ''] >>>