🔒 Opening & Manipulating Text Files

[naive owl]

I have just completed a main module that converts english text to pig latin. My prof included the readlines method, but I did not include it and I am confused as to why mine still works. Doesn't a file always have to be read?

Here is my solution:

import pig_latin 

def main():
    """Execution begins here."""
    try:
        with open("antony_speech.txt", encoding="utf-8") as f_in:
            try:
                with open("antony_speech_pig_latin.txt", mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as f_out:
                    for line in f_in: # Complete the following for each line 
                        eng_txt = line.rstrip()
                        f_out.write(pig_latin.english_to_pig_latin(eng_txt) + "\n")
            except:
                print(f"Error: File could not be created.")
    except:
        print(f"Error: File could not be opened.")


main()

My prof's solution:

import solution_1  # My Pig Latin module


def main():
    """Execution begins here."""
    in_file = "antony_speech.txt"
    out_file = "antony_speech_pig_latin.txt"
    try:
        with open(in_file, encoding="utf-8") as f_in:
            try:
                with open(out_file, mode="w", encoding="utf-8") as f_out:
                    eng_txt = f_in.readline().rstrip()
                    while eng_txt != "": # Complete the following for each line 
                        f_out.write(solution_1.english_to_pig_latin(eng_txt) + "\n")
                        eng_txt = f_in.readline().rstrip()
            except:
                print(f"Error: File '{out_file}' could not be created.")
    except:
        print(f"Error: Can't open '{in_file}'.")


main()

[sharp harbor]

@naive owl

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[pastel hazel]

File objects are iterable.

When you're iterating over a file opened in text mode, by default, it iterates over the lines.

Personally, my preference is to use str.splitlines. i.e. py file.read().splitlines()if the file isn't gargantuan so as to preclude holding it all in memory at once.

[naive owl]

ohh I see so there is no need to use read when iterating? But you have to when you don't iterate?

[pastel hazel]

It depends on what suits a given situation.

There are often many different ways to come at a problem.

One of those ways tends to suit it better, often being the simpler one.

When you're not for looping, you'll want to pull data out in some manner, usually.

Which means maybe a read or readline call of some sort.

Imagine the file handle as like a tape drive with data on it.

You know those old fashioned reels?

[naive owl]

Mhm

[pastel hazel]

file.read() reads the whole thing out from the current position, usually the start, to the end.

file.readline() will read up to the next line

iterating over file will do similar to file.readline

[naive owl]

Ohh I see that makes so much sense now thanks!!

[pastel hazel]

So you could do file.readline() file.readline() file.readline() to get the first three lines, then a file.read() to get the rest in one chunk.

[naive owl]

Mhm makes sense!!

[sharp harbor]

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