Re: [Tutor] Python Books...*
"Srinidhi Rao" wrote I am a beginner here want to explore python, Hi, are you a beginner to programming or just to Python? There are many good books for those converting from other languages, there are not so many for those starting from scratch. To Start with which is the best book to get a hang of what python is and also provide some distinction between the Python 2.6 and 3.x... Most books deal with one otr the other, I don't know of any that compare the two. My online tutorlial is availavble for both and by comparing versions you would get some idea. But the best way is to read the Python v3 "Whats New" pages... If this question is relevant can any one suggest which book to refer for the DataStructures(preferably in C) to have some backdrop. I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Python and C data structures are very different. Python works at a much higher level, abstract concept and C works at a low level, close to memory. Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books or are you OK with web based resources? HTH, -- Alan Gauld Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Python Books...*
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Alan Gauld wrote: > > "Srinidhi Rao" wrote > >> I am a beginner here want to explore python, > > Hi, are you a beginner to programming or just to Python? > There are many good books for those converting from other languages, > there are not so many for those starting from scratch. > >> To Start with which is the best book to get a hang of what python is and >> also provide some distinction between the Python 2.6 and 3.x... > > Most books deal with one otr the other, I don't know of any that > compare the two. My online tutorlial is availavble for both and by > comparing versions you would get some idea. But the best way > is to read the Python v3 "Whats New" pages... > >> If this question is relevant can any one suggest which book to refer for >> the >> DataStructures(preferably in C) to have some backdrop. > > I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Python and C data > structures are very different. Python works at a much higher level, > abstract concept and C works at a low level, close to memory. > > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books > or are you OK with web based resources? Hi Alan > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books > or are you OK with web based resources? What exactly is dead tree book. sounds interesting Thanks Kaushal ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Python Books...*
> > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books > > or are you OK with web based resources? > > What exactly is dead tree book. sounds interesting Paper is made from dead trees... :-) Alan Gauld Author of the Learn To Program website http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Python Books...*
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Kaushal Shriyan wrote: > On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Alan Gauld > wrote: > > > > "Srinidhi Rao" wrote > > > >> I am a beginner here want to explore python, > > > > Hi, are you a beginner to programming or just to Python? > > There are many good books for those converting from other languages, > > there are not so many for those starting from scratch. > > > >> To Start with which is the best book to get a hang of what python is and > >> also provide some distinction between the Python 2.6 and 3.x... > > > > Most books deal with one otr the other, I don't know of any that > > compare the two. My online tutorlial is availavble for both and by > > comparing versions you would get some idea. But the best way > > is to read the Python v3 "Whats New" pages... > > > >> If this question is relevant can any one suggest which book to refer for > >> the > >> DataStructures(preferably in C) to have some backdrop. > > > > I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Python and C data > > structures are very different. Python works at a much higher level, > > abstract concept and C works at a low level, close to memory. > > > > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books > > or are you OK with web based resources? > > Hi Alan > > > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books > > or are you OK with web based resources? > > What exactly is dead tree book. sounds interesting > > Thanks > > Kaushal Kaushal, dead tree book is the normal (printed) physical book you buy from a bookshop. -- Evans ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Python Books...*
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 3:23 PM, Evans Anyokwu wrote: > > > On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 9:34 AM, Kaushal Shriyan > wrote: >> >> On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 2:39 PM, Alan Gauld >> wrote: >> > >> > "Srinidhi Rao" wrote >> > >> >> I am a beginner here want to explore python, >> > >> > Hi, are you a beginner to programming or just to Python? >> > There are many good books for those converting from other languages, >> > there are not so many for those starting from scratch. >> > >> >> To Start with which is the best book to get a hang of what python is >> >> and >> >> also provide some distinction between the Python 2.6 and 3.x... >> > >> > Most books deal with one otr the other, I don't know of any that >> > compare the two. My online tutorlial is availavble for both and by >> > comparing versions you would get some idea. But the best way >> > is to read the Python v3 "Whats New" pages... >> > >> >> If this question is relevant can any one suggest which book to refer >> >> for >> >> the >> >> DataStructures(preferably in C) to have some backdrop. >> > >> > I'm not sure what you are looking for here. Python and C data >> > structures are very different. Python works at a much higher level, >> > abstract concept and C works at a low level, close to memory. >> > >> > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books >> > or are you OK with web based resources? >> >> Hi Alan >> >> > Finally, do you explicitly want dead tree books or Kindle type e-books >> > or are you OK with web based resources? >> >> What exactly is dead tree book. sounds interesting >> >> Thanks >> >> Kaushal > > > Kaushal, dead tree book is the normal (printed) physical book you buy from a > bookshop. > > -- > Evans > Thanks Evans,Alan, I learnt a new thing today :-) ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
[Tutor] Paper Book
Hi, Thanks for the reply guys, I would prefer a Paper Book as I don't have a kindle(amazon) and also the PDF is not so suitable out here.. (the power cuts hamper continuity :( ) @Alan, Nice website for a beginner. I glanced through your webpage and thanks for the link. I too have an Electronics background, I am only new to Python and of course OOPs... can you suggest any good books(paper) on Python. Thanks and Regards, || SRX || ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] Paper Book
Am 18.11.2010 15:31, schrieb Srinidhi Rao: Hi, Thanks for the reply guys, I would prefer a Paper Book as I don't have a kindle(amazon) and also the PDF is not so suitable out here.. (the power cuts hamper continuity :( ) @Alan, Nice website for a beginner. I glanced through your webpage and thanks for the link. I too have an Electronics background, I am only new to Python and of course OOPs... can you suggest any good books(paper) on Python. Thanks and Regards, || SRX || My first book was "Learning Python" from Mark Lutz. Today, I think it's a bit too long. (OK, now I have learned most of the stuff in the book). It's certainly not the wrong choice for a beginner book. And now I'm a convinced Python fan. So it must have somehow worked. "Programming in Python 3" from Mark Summerfield is also nice. I've bought it recently and like it. But can't comment on how it feels reading it as a complete novice. The best book in my opinion, however *not* a beginner book, is from David Beazley: Python Essential Reference. As the name tells it's a reference, but with a lot of good recommendations and right to the point. That might be a good choice as a second book. Or you could read it in parallel to your beginner book - look up the topics you covered in the reference book. There's another good one (also for beginners): Dive into Python. There's a free edition on the web: http://diveintopython.org/ If you like it you can also by a "dead tree" version. (I've learned a new expression today, too ;-)) HTH, Jan ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
[Tutor] new to python
Dear Python Tutor, Being new to python I was wondering if there is a way to import exel data into pyrhon matrix/arrays so that I have some data to work with. I know R uses Rcmdr as an easy interface for excel data, which helps keep the reader engaged while learning the language. Thanks G ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] new to python
gary engstrom wrote: Dear Python Tutor, Being new to python I was wondering if there is a way to import exel data into pyrhon matrix/arrays so that I have some data to work with. I know R uses Rcmdr as an easy interface for excel data, which helps keep the reader engaged while learning the language. Python doesn't directly support Excel binary formats such as xls, but it does support the interchange CSV format. See the csv module: http://docs.python.org/library/csv.html http://effbot.org/librarybook/csv.htm Also, if you write your data to a tab-delimited file, you can just read the file line by line, splitting on tabs. Finally, if you must deal with Excel binary formats, there is at least one third-party library that might help. Google for "python excel" for links. -- Steven ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] new to python
On 18 November 2010 21:13, gary engstrom wrote: > Being new to python I was wondering if there is a way to import exel data > into pyrhon matrix/arrays so that I have some data to work with. I know R > uses Rcmdr as an easy interface > for excel data, which helps keep the reader engaged while learning the > language. > > If you want to read/write an Excel format files, have a look at the "xlwt" and the "xlrt" Python modules (probably what Steven was aluding to). See http://www.python-excel.org/ These modules works quite well for reading/generating Excel files (with expectable limitations) from any platform that Python's available on (e.g. including non-Windows) and thus does not require Excel to be available on the machine you're producing the file on. If however you are running on Windows and have Excel installed, you could also consider driving the real Excel via COM automation, which will guarantee you get desired results including formatting, charts etc when generating sheets, and will ensure you have full access to all the functionality Excel exposes via its COM object model. If your requirements is simple enough though then Steven's suggestion to use CSV is probably preferable, e.g. export the data to CSV and then import with the "csv" module in Python. (The KISS principle applies here as elsewhere in programming: "Keep It Small & Simple") HTH, Walter ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] new to python
Walter, For those of us who are new to writing code that makes various software packages interact with each other, can you say more about what "COM object model" means in this context and where one can learn how to use it to make Python interact with Excel and with Windows software in general. I've seen term "COM" before and I know it has something to do with how Windows programs interact with each other, but that's about it. Can you suggest some resources for learning more? Thanks, Joel _ From: tutor-bounces+joel=joelschwartz@python.org [mailto:tutor-bounces+joel=joelschwartz@python.org] On Behalf Of Walter Prins Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2010 2:51 PM To: gary engstrom Cc: Tutor@python.org Subject: Re: [Tutor] new to python On 18 November 2010 21:13, gary engstrom wrote: Being new to python I was wondering if there is a way to import exel data into pyrhon matrix/arrays so that I have some data to work with. I know R uses Rcmdr as an easy interface for excel data, which helps keep the reader engaged while learning the language. If you want to read/write an Excel format files, have a look at the "xlwt" and the "xlrt" Python modules (probably what Steven was aluding to). See http://www.python-excel.org/ These modules works quite well for reading/generating Excel files (with expectable limitations) from any platform that Python's available on (e.g. including non-Windows) and thus does not require Excel to be available on the machine you're producing the file on. If however you are running on Windows and have Excel installed, you could also consider driving the real Excel via COM automation, which will guarantee you get desired results including formatting, charts etc when generating sheets, and will ensure you have full access to all the functionality Excel exposes via its COM object model. If your requirements is simple enough though then Steven's suggestion to use CSV is probably preferable, e.g. export the data to CSV and then import with the "csv" module in Python. (The KISS principle applies here as elsewhere in programming: "Keep It Small & Simple") HTH, Walter ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] new to python
"Joel Schwartz" wrote packages interact with each other, can you say more about what "COM object model" means in this context and where one can learn how to use it to make Python interact with Excel and with Windows software in general. COM = Common Object Model It is a Microsoft standard to expose application Objects so that programs can interact with each other by calling those objects methods. Because it is a binary standard it will work with any programming language with a COM binding. Typically an office application will expose a Document object that you can open, read, close etc.Excel includes operations to select tabs, columns, rows, cells etc. There have been numerous incarnations of COM over the years, you may have also heard of OLE, ActiveX, DCOM, COM+ etc. There is a load of info on the Microsoft Developers web site. You can access COM via the Pythonwin library in the windows extensions package and Marrk Hammond's book Python Programming on Win32 provides extensive descriptions. Personally I prefer to interact with COM via VBScript as the Python route is (only slightly) more clunky. IMHO HTH, -- Alan Gauld Author of the Learn to Program web site http://www.alan-g.me.uk/ ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
Re: [Tutor] new to python
On 11/18/2010 4:20 PM Joel Schwartz said... Walter, For those of us who are new to writing code that makes various software packages interact with each other, can you say more about what "COM object model" means in this context and where one can learn how to use it to make Python interact with Excel and with Windows software in general. I've seen term "COM" before and I know it has something to do with how Windows programs interact with each other, but that's about it. Can you suggest some resources for learning more? This looks like one appropriate starting point... http://docs.activestate.com/activepython/2.4/pywin32/html/com/win32com/HTML/QuickStartServerCom.html Emile ___ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org To unsubscribe or change subscription options: http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor
