Скачать или смотреть How to Use split() in Python to Read and Format Text Files

Learn how to effectively use Python's `split()` method to read from external text files and format your output efficiently.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/70178274/ asked by the user 'Adam' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/14613028/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/70178301/ provided by the user 'Simon Thomas' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11194179/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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How to Use split() in Python to Read and Format Text Files

Handling text files can be a common task when working with data in Python. Many times, you may need to extract specific information from a file and present it in a clear, readable format. One method that comes in handy is Python's split(). In this guide, we’ll explore how to use split() on an external text file, allowing us to format multiple lines effectively.

The Problem: Formatting Text File Output

Suppose you have a text file named books2.txt that contains data in a comma-separated format. You want to retrieve lines that contain a specific keyword (e.g., "Fiction") and print the components of those lines on separate lines. Your initial code can read the file but doesn't output the split components as desired. Here's a snippet of what we want to accomplish:

Given an output like this:

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We want to transform it into the following format:

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The Solution: Using split() Efficiently

The solution to reformatting our output lies in the correct use of the split() method. Let's break it down into clear steps:

Step 1: Read the File

The first step is to read the lines from the file. You can use the following code to open the file and read its contents:

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Step 2: Filtering Lines

Next, filter the lines that contain the keyword "Fiction". For this, you can use a simple if statement inside a loop:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Splitting the Line

Now, you'll apply the split() method. The goal is to separate the components using a comma as a delimiter and remove any unnecessary whitespace from each component. You would use list comprehension for this:

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Step 4: Joining the Components

Finally, to print each component on a new line, you can use the join() method combined with the newline character \n. Here’s the complete code you would run:

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Expected Output

When you run the above code, you will achieve the following formatted output:

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Conclusion

Using the split() method in Python allows for efficient manipulation of text files, making it easier to format and present data clearly. With just a few steps, you can read, filter, split, and format your output to meet your needs. This technique can save time and enhance the readability of your data!

If you encounter issues while not getting your expected format, ensure your delimiter correctly matches the content and that whitespace is handled effectively.

Feel free to try this out with your own text files, and happy coding!