Print class instance variable from another class method

Question

I have a class which initialises a person, then another class to handle the manipulation and displaying of that persons details. When I try to use the display_person method it prints the class instance rather than the fullname. I tried adding dunder methods __str__ and __repr__ however that doesn't resolve it.

import itertools

class Person:

    num_of_emps = 0
    id_iter = itertools.count(1)

    def __init__(self, firstname: str, surname: str, address: str, email: str):
        self.firstname = str(firstname)
        self.surname = str(surname)
        self.fullname = str(firstname) + ' ' + str(surname)
        self.email = str(email)
        self.address = str(address)

        person_id = next(self.id_iter)
        self.person_id = int(person_id)
        Person.num_of_emps += 1


class PersonActions:
    def display_person(self, fullname) -> None:
        print(f'This is {fullname.__str__()}.')

p1 = Person('Lucas', 'S', '100 st', '[email protected]')
p2 = Person('Rosie', 'B', '101 st', '[email protected]')
action = PersonActions()
print(action.display_person(p1))

The output is:

This is <__main__.Person object at 0x10aeebe20>.
None.

Would the architecture be better if I added the display_person method to the Person class directly? From research I have seen that its better to keep these methods separate for cohesion purposes as per this. How can I get the display_person method to print the full name? I plan to do the same with other details later on.

Why does it print 'None' also?

I have looked at class employee print method but still can't figure it out.

It prints None also because in addition to printing within display_person you also print the return value of that function. "I have a class which initialises a person, then another class to handle the manipulation and displaying of that persons details." this is a bizarre separation of duties, fwiw. — erik258
– erik258, Commented Oct 2, 2022 at 17:07
Please show your __str__() method, that should have worked. — Barmar
– Barmar, Commented Oct 2, 2022 at 17:08

quamrana · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-02 17:13:57Z

2

You pass in an instance of Person, so you should handle it as such in your other class:

class PersonActions:
    def display_person(self, person) -> None:
        print(f'This is {person.fullname.__str__()}.')

Actually you don't need the .__str()__, nor do you need the print() when you are calling this method:

class PersonActions:
    def display_person(self, person) -> None:
        print(f'This is {person.fullname}.')

p1 = Person('Lucas', 'S', '100 st', '[email protected]')
p2 = Person('Rosie', 'B', '101 st', '[email protected]')
action = PersonActions()
action.display_person(p1)

Update:

or you meant to include a __str__() method like this:

class Person:
    ...   # Current implementation elided - see code from OP
    def __str__(self):
        return self.fullname

class PersonActions:
    def display_person(self, person) -> None:
        print(f'This is {person}.')

The f-string formatting will automatically call the __str__() method for you.

edited Oct 2, 2022 at 17:13

answered Oct 2, 2022 at 17:05

quamrana

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3 Comments

Barmar Over a year ago

I think he wants printing a Person to automatically show the fullname, using a __str__() method.

Luca Over a year ago

Thank you, I didn't know f-string called the str. To clarify, I plan to include more methods to show the other details of the Person (ie, id, email, address) so {person.fullname} is ideal

Luca Over a year ago

@Barmar yes I might end up just printing all Person details within a single function so that is also an option

Barmar · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-02 17:12:03Z

Defining the __str__() method should work:

class Person:

    num_of_emps = 0
    id_iter = itertools.count(1)

    def __init__(self, firstname: str, surname: str, address: str, email: str):
        self.firstname = str(firstname)
        self.surname = str(surname)
        self.fullname = str(firstname) + ' ' + str(surname)
        self.email = str(email)
        self.address = str(address)

        person_id = next(self.id_iter)
        self.person_id = int(person_id)
        Person.num_of_emps += 1

    def __str__(self):
        return self.fullname

class PersonActions:
    def display_person(self, person: Person) -> None:
        print(f'This is {person}.')

You don't need to call .__str__() explicitly. The f-string converts the values to strings automatically.

Elicon · Accepted Answer · 2022-10-02 17:30:31Z

0

Add this to your class:

  def __str__(self):
        return(f"{self.fullname}")

and then print(p1)

answered Oct 2, 2022 at 17:30

Elicon

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