Comparing 2 variables when one is retrieved from text file

Question

I am trying to write code that compares variable b with value retrieved from text file using linecache.getline

The problem is it will never print our "ITS WORKING" because the values never match, even if they do :-(

THE TEXT FILE: In the text file there is only one character and its "a"

Here is the code:

import linecache

b="a" 

a=linecache.getline("TextFile.txt",1)


if a==b:
    print("ITS WORKING")

I printed variable a and it printed "a" so i dont think the problem is there, but i really dont know :-( — Bob, Mar 20 '17 at 16:45
Is it a file that has only `a`, or many characters along with `a` — Keerthana Prabhakaran, Mar 20 '17 at 16:51
I didnt know how to, thx for tip i guess it will help me a lot in future :-) — Bob, Mar 20 '17 at 20:46

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 20 '17 at 16:48

2

According to the documentation, linecache.getline will include the trailing newline character, that's why your match does not work.

answered Mar 20 '17 at 16:48

timgeb

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Keerthana Prabhakaran · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-20T16:53:24.483

1

You probably need to strip the extra spaces at the end of line that is read.

a=linecache.getline("TextFile.txt",1).strip()


Keerthana:~ kiran$ cat TextFile.txt
a
Keerthana:~ kiran$ py Desktop/test.py
a
ITS WORKING
Keerthana:~ kiran$

Hope it helps!

edited Mar 20 '17 at 16:53

answered Mar 20 '17 at 16:47

Keerthana Prabhakaran

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it'd be helpful if you could add the contents of the input file in question! – Keerthana Prabhakaran Mar 20 '17 at 16:50
If thats the case, it works perfectly fine. Kindly cross check! – Keerthana Prabhakaran Mar 20 '17 at 16:52
LOVE YOU xD. It works like charm, i was stupid i was trying to retrieve the value from txt file with different name, now with .strip() it works great! Thanks! – Bob Mar 20 '17 at 16:56
Well, i dont have enough reputation to upvote but i will accept it as son as possible but there is 1 min limitation... Accepted now :-) – Bob Mar 20 '17 at 16:58

Comparing 2 variables when one is retrieved from text file

2 Answers2