I created a script that opens an existing text file,
allows the user to write over the original contents,
and then save the file. The original contents are
then saved in a separate file. Here is the script:
#!/usr/bin/python
'editTextFile.py -- write over contents of existing
text file'
import os, string
# get filename
while True:
fname = raw_input('Enter file name: ')
if not (os.path.exists(fname)):
print"*** ERROR: '%s' doesn't exist" % fname
else:
break
# get file content (text) lines
all = []
print "\nEnter lines ('.' by itself to quit).\n"
# loop until user terminates input
while True:
entry = raw_input('> ')
if entry == '.':
break
else:
all.append(entry)
# write lines to file with NEWLINE line terminator
print "1) Replace file's contents"
print "Any other key quits function without replacing
file's contents"
choice = raw_input("Make a choice: ")
if choice == '1':
fobj = open(fname, 'r')
fobj_lines = fobj.readlines()
fobj.close()
fobj = open(fname, 'w')
fname_orig = fname + '_orig'
fobj_orig = open(fname_orig, 'w')
stripped_lines = []
for line in fobj_lines:
string.strip(line)
stripped_lines.append(line)
fobj_orig.write('\n'.join(stripped_lines))
fobj_orig.close()
fobj.write('\n'.join(all))
fobj.close()
print 'DONE!'
else:
print 'Bye!'
I took a file called myfile. The original contents of
myfile were:
Hi!
This is my file.
It really rocks!
I then ran my script:
Enter file name: myfile
Enter lines ('.' by itself to quit).
> test
> test
> test
> .
1) Replace file's contents
Any other key quits function without replacing file's
contents
Make a choice: 1
DONE!
Now the contents of myfile are:
test
test
test
The original contents were saved in myfile_orig. The
contents of myfile_orig are:
Hi!
This is my file.
It really rocks!
Extra newlines were added. This won't do. I think
the problem lies with
fobj_orig.write('\n'.join(stripped_lines))
However, when I rewrite this line code as
fobj_orig.write(string.join(stripped_lines))
I get
Hi!
This is my file.
It really rocks!
That doesn't work either. Any suggestions?
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