Reading a file on python returns an empty string

Question

I have been trying to read a file in python, the thing is that it returns an empty string. Here is the code:


with open('data.txt') as file:
    content = f.readlines()
    print(content) #prints nothing

note: It's a really big file, is that a problem?

Are you confident that there are some data inside the data.txt file? If-Then Can you provide the data and some more code? — Sharim09
– Sharim09, Commented Jun 5, 2022 at 17:40
is it a problem if the file is 4tb? Does that overwork the program? — sheepminecraft
– sheepminecraft, Commented Jun 5, 2022 at 17:41

Sharim09 · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-05 17:50:02Z

2

change f.readlines() to file.readlines() This is only a typo. But I don't know why you don't get the error here. I think you open another file as f And You get the empty string here 'cause if you try to read a file more than once, you got an empty string except for the first time.
As you say the file size is 4TB, This could be the problem because of Max File Size In Python

answered Jun 5, 2022 at 17:50

Sharim09

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Rafael González Castillero · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-05 17:41:29Z

0

You need to make sure your text file name is the proper one, but most important, you need to provide full path of the file, in case it is not in the same directory as the script.

answered Jun 5, 2022 at 17:41

Rafael González Castillero

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2 Comments

sheepminecraft Over a year ago

It is in the same directory. I wonder whats the problem :(

Community Over a year ago

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Keivan · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-02 19:48:46Z

0

So I had this same issue with when I read a file using with open, as all it would do was return nothing even though the txt file was in the same directory and was full of content.

file_path = r"C:\Users\windowsuser\Downloads\folder1\folder2\textfile.txt"
    
try:
    file = open(file_path, "r", encoding='utf-8')
    content = file.read()
    print("File contents (visible):\n", content)
        
except FileNotFoundError:
    print("File not found.")
except Exception as e:
    print("Error:", e)
finally:
    if 'file' in locals():
        file.close()

edited Feb 2, 2024 at 19:48

Keivan

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answered Feb 1, 2024 at 1:12

ShySkill

1

Comments

score -2 · Accepted Answer · 2022-06-05 17:39:00Z

-2


with open('data.txt') as file:
    content = file.readlines()
    print(content) #prints nothing

This should work i think

edited Jun 5, 2022 at 17:39

answered Jun 5, 2022 at 17:38

user18919576

2 Comments

sheepminecraft Over a year ago

it still dosent work

Community Over a year ago

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center.

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