Using a Variable in Python String

Question

I'm not sure how to word the question, and I'm not finding anything in searches.

I have a variable, and want to pass it into f.open() as the name of the file to open. The goal is to type a file name into foo, then it clears the files.

foo = str(raw_input('enter a filename '))
bar = foo   
f = open('foo', 'w')
f.write("")
f.close()

I've tried using open(foo, 'w') and replacing it with 'bar', but neither seems to work. Any suggestions?

What does it mean "doesn't seems to work"? What exactly happens? It should work — Wolfram
– Wolfram, Commented Feb 13, 2017 at 17:40
It would run, but instead of clearing the file it would make a new file named "foo". Removing the quotes got it to work — Nameless477
– Nameless477, Commented Feb 13, 2017 at 17:44
The line f.write("") can be removed. You can even write open(foo, 'w').close(). — Éric Guirbal
– Éric Guirbal, Commented Feb 13, 2017 at 17:47

Mike Müller · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-13 17:39:38Z

2

Remove the '' from 'foo':

f = open('foo', 'w')

Like this:

f = open(foo, 'w')

'foo' is a literal string and foo is a variable name that holds the file name the user entered.

answered Feb 13, 2017 at 17:39

Mike Müller

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Comments

Harrison · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-13 17:39:27Z

1

f = open(bar, 'w')

Just pass the variable name (without quotes of course).

Additionally, you don't need the line bar = foo. You are already storing the filename as foo with your first line.

So... if you remove bar = foo it would be f = open(foo, 'w')

answered Feb 13, 2017 at 17:39

Harrison

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1 Comment

Nameless477 Over a year ago

Don't know how i missed that. Must have been doing it wrong when i tried earlier. Thanks :)

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