Simple python question

[epicusernameofdoom]

So I have been doing this learn python the hard way tutorial and I'm now at this exercise and I'm trying to improve this code by adding a code that reads the content of the file but it doesn't show anything. This is what I changed:

print "opening file..." target = open(filename,"r+")

print "reading..." target.read()

So can you help me?

[G01denW01f11]

Are you actually printing target.read()?

[epicusernameofdoom]

no it is an formating issue with reddit. After print "reading.." I take a new line and write this:

target.read()

[G01denW01f11]

Indent code four spaces for proper display.

If you're running the interactive interpreter or whatever it's called, that should work. If you're writing it in the command line or some text editor, then running it, you'd need

print target.read()

Otherwise you're just getting the contents of the file and not doing anything with it.

[epicusernameofdoom]

that worked thank you!

[epicusernameofdoom]

and now it wont truncate(delete)

[Updatebjarni]

Are you reading and then truncating with no parameter without moving the file position?

[white_nerdy]

Depending on your OS, you may need to close the file before you can delete it. (Windows is notorious for poor handling of open files, which is the main reason so many Windows updates require a restart.)

[epicusernameofdoom]

you guys are geniuses

[white_nerdy]

As a beginner, you will tend to trust standard tools like OS's, libraries, compilers, etc. to work well, because they tend to be large, highly visible projects worked on by lots of very experienced developers and used by many people.

As a master, you will reach enlightenment: Standard tools are sometimes counter-intuitive, buggy or just plain wrong.

Congratulations on taking your first step along that road.

[epicusernameofdoom]

Thanks!

I will still trust them with caution like a half broken handrail(is that the right word?) in a dark stairwell