Python not creating and writing to csv

Question

I am using Spyder and accessing the reddit API to get some data and write it to csv, when I print out the lines, everything works fine, but then the csv file just doesn't get created, I tried many things but nothing seems to work, and a very similar piece of code worked out fine and I got the csv file, so I have no idea what the problem is.

with open('finalplswork.csv', 'wb') as fl:
    writr = csv.writer(fl)   
    for subid in idsss:
        submission = r.get_submission(submission_id=subid)
        created_utc=submission.created_utc
        created_date_utc = datetime.fromtimestamp(created_utc)
        data=(subid, created_utc, created_date_utc)
        writr.writerow(data)

How are you running the file? Check the directory where this python file is located, not the directory you are running it from. — Burhan Khalid
– Burhan Khalid, Commented Jul 4, 2013 at 11:26
For me, I had a ":" in my output filename and it just died silently. Like no exceptions, no errors, everything ran just fine. But the file was simply not created. Took me a while to figure out lol. — Apache
– Apache, Commented Aug 16, 2021 at 12:49

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-04 11:22:48Z

3

Your CSV is created, but you are using a relative file path.

You'd have to print os.getcwd() to know where it is being created, or set the current working directory to where you expect your file to appear.

Best to use an absolute file path instead:

with open('C:/full/path/to/your/documents/folder/finalplswork.csv', 'wb') as fl:

answered Jul 4, 2013 at 11:22

Martijn Pieters

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3 Comments

John Zwinck Over a year ago

Good theory. But one note: you do know where it is created: os.getcwd(). :)

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@JohnZwinck: Sure, but I strongly suspect that the CWD is somewhere in C:\Python27, not the best place to go spelunking for a lost CSV file..

Burhan Khalid Over a year ago

Not to mention on Windows unless you are using an elevated prompt, you can't write to most directories in the main system drive (ie, the "C drive").

John Zwinck · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-04 11:24:06Z

0

I turned your code into a self-contained example:

with open('finalplswork.csv', 'wb') as fl:
    writr = csv.writer(fl)
    for subid in range(3):
        submission = 'foo'
        created_utc = 130000
        created_date_utc = 20130704
        data=(subid, created_utc, created_date_utc)
        writr.writerow(data)

It works fine:

$ cat finalplswork.csv 
0,130000,20130704
1,130000,20130704
2,130000,20130704

So your problem is not with the code you've shown here.

answered Jul 4, 2013 at 11:24

John Zwinck

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2 Comments

d12n Over a year ago

Yes, true, I just tried it in python on terminal as opposed to the Spyder IDE, and it worked, so I guess it is a Spyder bug. I will still accept your answer soon, or should I delete the question?

John Zwinck Over a year ago

Don't delete your question, it's fine. I'm not sure it's a Spyder bug--see Martijn's answer!

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