How to copy dictionary object value from one key to another?

Question

I have to make a dictionary with input, which may contain "key -> value1, value2" or "key -> key". The keys are always strings, and the values are always integers, separated by a comma and a space. If given a key and values, I must store the values to the given key. If the key already exists, I must add the given values to the old ones. If given a key and another key, I must copy the values of the other key to the first one. If the other key does not exist, this input line must be ignored. When I receive the command “end”, I must stop reading input lines, and must print all keys with their values, in the following format: {key} === {value1, value2, value3}

data = input()

dict_ref = {}


def is_int(s):
    try:
        int(s)
        return True
    except ValueError:
        return False


while data != "end":
    list_data = data.split(" -> ")

    name = list_data[0]
    values = list_data[1].split(", ")

    if name not in dict_ref and is_int(values[0]):
        dict_ref[name] = values

    elif values[0] in dict_ref:
        dict_ref[name] = dict_ref[values[0]]

    elif name in dict_ref and is_int(values[0]):
        dict_ref[name].extend(values)

    data = input()

for item in dict_ref:
    print(f"{item} === ", end="")
    print(", ".join(dict_ref[item]))

Input:

Peter -> 1, 2, 3

Isacc -> Peter

Peter -> 4, 5

end

Expected output:

Peter === 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Isacc === 1, 2, 3

Actual output:

Peter === 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Isacc === 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

"Expected output" With what input? I can see neither Peter nor Isaac in your sample inputs. — Stop harming Monica, Aug 30 '19 at 12:11

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 31 '19 at 10:30

data = input()

dict_ref = {}


def is_int(s):

try:
    int(s)
    return True
except ValueError:
    return False

while data != 'end':
    list_data = data.split('->')
    key = list_data[0].strip()
    values = list_data[1].split(',')

    for value in values:
        value = value.strip()

        if key not in dict_ref.keys() and is_int(value):
            dict_ref[key] = [value]

        elif key in dict_ref.keys() and is_int(value):
            dict_ref[key].append(value)

        else:
        '''
        With Python dictionaries, when you assign a key to the value of another, the refresh is done automatically.
        For example, writing in this condition, dict_ref [key] = dict_ref [value], when the while loop will start with a new data value, 
        dict_ref [key] = dict_ref [value] will be dynamically updated with the new data as well.
        That's why you should not make a direct assignment, you have to create a new variable that will contain Peter's values,
        then you will assign to the key 'Isacc'.
        '''
            vals = list() #New List
            for val in dict_ref[value]:
                vals.append(val)
            dict_ref[key] = vals

    data = input()

for item in dict_ref:
    print(f"{item} === ", end="")
    print(", ".join(dict_ref[item]))

Input:

Peter -> 1, 2, 3

Isacc -> Peter

Peter -> 4, 5

end

Output:

Peter === 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Isacc === 1, 2, 3

Thank you very much @Sekouba, that solved my problem. I only had to add check if "values" exist at all in the dict.ref.keys() (in case it's a string) and pass if it doesn't. — Tsveta Engyozova, Aug 31 '19 at 11:37

How to copy dictionary object value from one key to another?

1 Answers1