Python: TypeError: argument of type 'builtin_function_or_method' is not iterable

Question

I have the following code:

def search():
    os.chdir("C:/Users/Luke/Desktop/MyFiles")
    files = os.listdir(".")
    os.mkdir("C:/Users/Luke/Desktop/FilesWithString")
    string = input("Please enter the website your are looking for (in lower case):")
    for x in files:
        inputFile = open(x, "r")
        try:
            content = inputFile.read().lower
        except UnicodeDecodeError:
            continue
        inputFile.close()
        if string in content:
            shutil.copy(x, "C:/Users/Luke/Desktop/FilesWithString")

which always gives this error:

line 80, in search
    if string in content:
TypeError: argument of type 'builtin_function_or_method' is not iterable

can someone shed some light on why.

thans

Abhijit · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-19 13:18:47Z

50

Change the line

content = inputFile.read().lower

to

content = inputFile.read().lower()

Your original line assigns the built-in function lower to your variable content instead of calling the function str.lower and assigning the return value which is definitely not iterable.

answered Jan 19, 2013 at 13:18

Abhijit

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1 Comment

flexus Over a year ago

especially in this case pythons error messages could be slightly more helpful :-/

sotapme · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-19 13:19:32Z

5

You're using

content = inputFile.read().lower

instead of

content = inputFile.read().lower()

ie you're getting the function lower and not the return value from lower.

In effect what you're getting is:

>>> 
>>> for x in "HELLO".lower:
...     print x
... 
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: 'builtin_function_or_method' object is not iterable

answered Jan 19, 2013 at 13:19

sotapme

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