python argparse array instead of str

Question

I'm running into issues when using argparse. With below code, I expected args.dir to be a string, but instead I got an array. How can I get a string? Can anyone help?

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import sys
import argparse

#import mysql.connector

# Set version number
version = '1.0.0'

# Parse arguments supplied on the commandline
argparser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=sys.argv[0])
argparser.add_argument('dir', nargs=1, type=str, help='directory to view')
args = argparser.parse_args()

# Print program name and version number to stdout
print(argparser.prog + " v" + version)
print('Creating index for: ' + args.dir[0])

docs.python.org/3/library/argparse.html#nargs Note that nargs=1 produces a list of one item. This is different from the default, in which the item is produced by itself. — hpaulj
– hpaulj, Commented Aug 30, 2018 at 2:25

jarmod · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-29 23:30:32Z

9

You indicated nargs=1 and even though you provided the value 1, argparse built you a list (like an array but not exactly the same thing). This is actually helpful because you can guarantee that when you indicate nargs, you will always get a list.

Remove the nargs parameter and you will get a string rather than a list.

edited Aug 29, 2018 at 23:30

answered Aug 29, 2018 at 23:24

jarmod

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1 Comment

Niels Jansen Over a year ago

This did the trick! Thanks. Also thanks for providing some extra insight in array vs list.

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