> > You don't seem to understand functions. Part of the point is to *avoid* > global variables. If everything a function uses is passed in as arguments, > and if everything it produces is returned as return value(s), it's much > easier to see its effect. And to make sure it doesn't have bugs.
True enough- that's why I seek advice. My trouble was with the bit of code I was writing inline; while adapting to the functions I misunderstood their value regarding global variables. I'm happy to say the code is using functions more appropriately now and that, as I learn, it will get closer to something more respectable. I see the advantages for debugging word_count = 0 #set up variable to increment through text > > def increment(x): > >> return x+1 >> increment(word_count) >> >> >> > This function doesn't have any effect on global variables. It returns a > value that's one more than its argument. Period. If you wanted to > increment word_count using that function, you'd do something like: > Thanks-- that makes complete sense; it appears that I just was wrapping my head around functions right away. Initially, I assumed this function could be something quick for any increments. Rather than writing out: 'word_count = word_count + 1' when needed.. I have no clue what this url() function is trying to do. Nor how you expect > to use it. Are you planning to open this file for each word contained in > it? yes. Essentially, it grabs each word from a text file and combines it with the other stuff to create a url string that I send through an API to an online thesaurus. I was attempting to strip it this way as a weak method for cleaning out the words I don't want searched from the text file. Along with the the other functions the code currently scans a text file and replaces each of its words with one of their synonyms.. slightly legible gibberish, but that's what I'm interested in for now. It is a project to help me start learning pyhton as well being intended to take a different form in an artwork I'm working on. thanks. petef On Sun, Jul 12, 2009 at 7:40 PM, Dave Angel <da...@ieee.org> wrote: > Pete Froslie wrote: > >> so, I've been playing with the functions a bit-- took a little time to get >> the hang of them after I started that other mess. Initially, I've done the >> opposite suggested here by creating functions without the input values. I >> do >> see the where it will pay off in re-usability that route.. Alan, I'll read >> your tutorial on modules and functions. >> >> Things that are arising for me now: >> >> (1)the use of global variables- seems it would be easier to communicate >> between functions with 'I/O' values if I understood where the best >> location >> for declaration is.. >> >> >> > You don't seem to understand functions. Part of the point is to *avoid* > global variables. If everything a function uses is passed in as arguments, > and if everything it produces is returned as return value(s), it's much > easier to see its effect. And to make sure it doesn't have bugs. > >> (2)not sure why this function doesn't work: >> >> word_count = 0 #set up variable to increment through text >> >> def increment(x): >> >> >>> return x+1 >>> >>> increment(word_count) >>> >>> >>> >> This function doesn't have any effect on global variables. It returns a > value that's one more than its argument. Period. If you wanted to > increment word_count using that function, you'd do something like: > > word_count = increment(word_count) > > (3) related to strings: Trying a function that will strip unwanted words >> off >> of the url before I bounce it off the website. For instance, I don't need >> to >> search for a, was, is... This is working, but with strange results-- often >> it will find an 'a' in the middle of a word and replace it with text and >> such. >> >> using rstrip, but with varying results: >> >> #this is the url as a string >> >> >>> http://words.bighugelabs.com/api/2/e413f24701aa30b7d441ca43a64317be/A/ >>> >>> thesaurus = string.rstrip(url(),"/A/") + '/' # stripping the end off and >>> re-adding the '/' >>> >>> >>> >> >> The url function btw: >> >> def url(): >> >> >>> fin = open("journey_test.txt", "r") >>> response = re.split(r"[/|/,\n, , ,:\"\"\.?,)(\-\<>\[\]'\r']", >>> fin.read()) >>> thesaurus = API_URL + response[word_number] + '/' #API_URL is >>> established at the start of the code >>> return thesaurus >>> >>> >>> >> >> Pete F >> >> >> > > I have no clue what this url() function is trying to do. Nor how you > expect to use it. Are you planning to open this file for each word > contained in it? > > DaveA > -- Pete Froslie 617.314.0957 http://www.froslie.net
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