Python: How can I create a data file from a converted csv file?

Question

I am trying to convert a csv file into another file (file type doesn't matter as the program using the converted data just opens it like a text file).

So far I have managed to convert and print the original csv data into the the data structure I want but I now need to save that as another file.

import csv
file = open('newData', 'w')

with open('initialData.csv', 'rb') as f:
reader = csv.reader(f, delimiter=',', quotechar='|')
for row in reader:
    print row[13] + ' 1:' + row[0] + ' 2:' + row[1]
    file.write(f)

file.close()

Whenever I run this I get the error:

TypeError: expected a character buffer object

I know there is nothing wrong with converting the csv file as that prints fine when I comment out the file.write(f).

Many thanks in advance!

Please do include the full traceback when reporting a python error, so we won't have to guess as much. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Jan 2, 2013 at 21:37
Your indentation is incorrect. Please ensure that the indentation you see in your question matches your original source code exactly. — cdhowie
– cdhowie, Commented Jan 2, 2013 at 21:37
Fix your indentation. For SO code samples, it's best to set your editor to indent with spaces, not tabs. — millimoose
– millimoose, Commented Jan 2, 2013 at 21:37
Also, while you're at it, you should use with..as for the output file as well. Also, don't name them file (that's a built-in) and f. Use something like infile and outfile. — millimoose
– millimoose, Commented Jan 2, 2013 at 21:38
You're using csv.reader for the input. Why not use csv.writer for the output? — abought
– abought, Commented Jan 2, 2013 at 21:51

Blair · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-02 21:57:23Z

8

Why are you trying to write the original file (the f object) to the new file? Don't you want to write the re-formatted data?

import csv

with open('initialData.csv', 'rb') as f_in, open('newData', 'w') as f_out:
    reader = csv.reader(f_in, delimiter=',', quotechar='|')
    for row in reader:
        print row[13] + ' 1:' + row[0] + ' 2:' + row[1]
        f_out.write(row[13] + ' 1:' + row[0] + ' 2:' + row[1])

Edit: as suggested by Jon Clements, use context manager for output as well + indentation fix.

edited Jan 2, 2013 at 21:57

answered Jan 2, 2013 at 21:37

Blair

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3 Comments

mrpopo Over a year ago

Gosh I can't believe I didn't see that before! Thanks for your help!

Blair Over a year ago

@mrpopo - don't sweat it, I've made that sort of mistake more times than I care to admit. So easy to overlook.

Jon Clements Over a year ago

Couple of changes: with open('in.csv') as f, open('out.csv','wb') as fo (make the most of your with), then don't indent the for

millimoose · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-02 21:37:54Z

0

You're trying to print out the file handle for the whole csv file. I'm guessing you want the text you're printing to be written out into a file, in that case just do:

with open('initialData.csv', 'rb') as infile, open('newData.txt') as outfile:
    reader = csv.reader(infile, ...)
    for row in reader:
        outfile.write(row[13] + ' 1:' + row[0] + ' 2:' + row[1])

answered Jan 2, 2013 at 21:37

millimoose

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