Python File Parser

Question

This is a model of a text file that I want to parse:

Something: different

Date: 22:23:32

I want to get the information after the :, for example: different and 22:23:32.

The only way in which I know how to do it, is to parse each line and split after :. The problem is that in case of date, it will crash.

This is the code I have written up to now:

for line in file:
    if re.match("Something", line):
        line = line.split(':')
        print (str(line[1]))
    elif re.match("Date", line):
        ???

This is just a simple example, the file which I need to parse containing much more information that I need to extract.

Which would be the most efficient way to solve the problem?

zondo · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-25 16:28:26Z

3

You need to specify a limit with split():

line = line.split(':', 1)

This way, this:that:somethingelse is interpreted as ['this', 'that:somethingelse'].

answered Feb 25, 2016 at 16:28

zondo

20.4k8 gold badges50 silver badges89 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Comments

Andriy Ivaneyko · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-25 16:28:57Z

2

Use second parameter of split method, it allows you to avoid problem with few : in one line, see code below:

for line in file:
    data = line.split(':', 1)[1]
    print data

str.split([sep[,maxsplit]])

Return a list of the words in the string, using sep as the delimiter string. If maxsplit is given, at most maxsplit splits are done (thus, the list will have at most maxsplit+1 elements).

Source: python documentation

edited Feb 25, 2016 at 16:28

answered Feb 25, 2016 at 16:28

Andriy Ivaneyko

22.3k7 gold badges70 silver badges89 bronze badges

2 Comments

zondo Over a year ago

Same answer in the same second as mine.

Andriy Ivaneyko Over a year ago

@zondo we are thinking in same directions ))

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Python File Parser

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

Comments

2 Comments

Related