🔒 Python says file isn't readable despite the file being readable

[still belfry]

I have tried stack overflow and w3 schools to sort this out. i have declarations above this code to create the files needed if they don't already exist and this works just fine. I get this error whenever I try to read the file, what's happening?

[outer light]

@still belfry

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[still belfry]

Error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "c:\Users\***\OneDrive\Documents\python project 2025\Summer Programming Assignment 2025.py", line 91, in <module>
list_check()
File "c:\Users\***\OneDrive\Documents\python project 2025\Summer Programming Assignment 2025.py", line 30, in list_check
print(g.read())
^^^^^^^^
io.UnsupportedOperation: not readable

[manic willow]

I'm not an expert or anything but try removing the +

[still belfry]

Code:

from datetime import datetime # allows additional metadata for user entries in all categories
import time # might need it. loading screens are cool if nothing else!

u = open("userdata.txt", "w") # user information for a personalised experience
f = open("food.txt", "w") # attempting to create save data per category for later checks.
g = open("transport.txt", "w")
j = open("utilities.txt", "w")
k = open("entertainment.txt", "w")
l = open("misc.txt", "w") # note to self: create option to clear save files

now = datetime.now()
current_time = now.strftime("%D/%M/%Y %H:%M:%S")
n = 0
category_check = False
running = True

def list_check():
print("1) Food\n 2) Transport\n 3) Utilities\n 4) Entertainment\n 5) Miscellaneous/Other")
while category_check == False:
checkcategory = int(input("Which category would you like to check?: "))
if checkcategory >= 6 or checkcategory <= 0:
time.sleep(1)
print("Please enter a valid number")
else:
if checkcategory == 1:
with open('food.txt', 'r+') as file:
print(f.read())
elif checkcategory == 2:
with open('transport.txt', 'r+') as file:
print(g.read())
elif checkcategory == 3:
with open('utilities.txt', 'r+') as file:
print(j.read())
elif checkcategory == 4:
with open('entertainment.txt', 'r+') as file:
print(k.read())
else:
with open('misc.txt', 'r+') as file:
print(l.read())

[still belfry]

tried, the mode isnt affecting it so long as it encompasses reading permissions

i've tried read-only, append and read, write and read, etc

[manic willow]

Is it in the same directory/does the program have permission to read it?

Hmm

Maybe instead of g put file

[still belfry]

how would i check?

[manic willow]

Just go to your File explorer and verify that both files are in the same directory

[still belfry]

there wasnt anything there

i'll try it again real quick now that ive made the files

[manic willow]

Does transport.txt exist?

Kk

[still belfry]

nothing

[manic willow]

Hmm

[manic willow]

Try this

[still belfry]

possibly

its not writing to the file either

ive just done a test entry and nothing

[manic willow]

Using this?

[still belfry]

lemme try

ok so its not giving me an error message

[manic willow]

That's good

[still belfry]

but now its just asking the prompt over and over again

i probably just need to write an exit method

[manic willow]

Yeah probably

[still belfry]

ok now its not reading the file at all

like it just skips that step

[outer light]

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