Python reads data as binary strings instead of text from log file

Question

I have a file with computer logs. When I open it in notepad++, the first few lines look like this -

#####################
[2015/07/03, 13:26:40.368,  INFO, 00004588] Legacy mode. Epoch number not found. Allowing message.
[2015/07/03, 13:26:40.368,  INFO, 00004588] >>>AgentGetState() called.
[2015/07/03, 13:26:40.368,  INFO, 00004588] AgentGetState Returning 00000000.<<<
[2015/07/03, 13:26:54.660,  INFO, 00010404] Subject name = am4prdapp09.fc.core.windows.net
[2015/07/03, 13:26:54.660,  INFO, 00010404] Legacy mode. Epoch number not found. Allowing message.
######################

Now, I read them in python like so -

f = open("log_file.log")
a = []
for i in f:
    a.append(i)

When I now look at the content:

a[0]

This is what I see -

'\xff\xfe[\x002\x000\x001\x005\x00/\x000\x007\x00/\x000\x003\x00,\x00 \x001\x003\x00:\x002\x006\x00:\x004\x000\x00.\x003\x006\x008\x00,\x00 \x00 \x00I\x00N\x00F\x00O\x00,\x00 \x000\x000\x000\x000\x004\x005\x008\x008\x00]\x00 \x00
\x00j\x00e\x00c\x00t\x00 \x00n\x00a\x00m\x00e\x00 \x00=\x00 \x00a\x00m\x004\x00p\x00r\x00d\x00a\x00p\x00p\x000\x009\x00.\x00f\x00c\x00.\x00c\x00o\x00r\x00e\x00.\x00w\x00i\x00n\x00d\x00o\x00w\x00s\x00.\x00n\x00e\x00t\x00\r\x00\n'

What am I missing?

On an unrelated side note, a = list(f) would do the trick without your 3-line for loop there. — Two-Bit Alchemist
– Two-Bit Alchemist, Commented Mar 26, 2016 at 22:13
@MaxNoe - Unicode. I guess I need to convert it to ASCII. I'll try and do that. Thanks. — Rohit Pandey
– Rohit Pandey, Commented Mar 26, 2016 at 22:16

Milor123 · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-26 23:03:43Z

2

Try:

f = open("log_file.log", 'r')
data = f.readlines()
for i in data:
    print i
>>> line
>>> ...
>>> ...

answered Mar 26, 2016 at 23:03

Milor123

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2 Comments

MaxNoe Over a year ago

You should use with open ...

Two-Bit Alchemist Over a year ago

Python's file objects are iterable to begin with. You should do for i in f (or more descriptively, for line in f). The only reason to call readlines() first is if you just want to eat the cost of front-loading the whole thing into memory.

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