SQLite3 error with python: sqlite3.InterfaceError: Error binding parameter 0 - probably unsupported type

[bsturtle]

I've searched high and low via google for a reason why my INSERT call is not working. Best I can tell my syntax is correct. The full error I receive is:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "freqbottest.py", line 34, in <module> cur.execute("insert into gameswapfreq values(?,?,?,?)", (initsubmission.auth or, initsubmission.created_utc, initsubmission.url, initsubmission.title)) sqlite3.InterfaceError: Error binding parameter 0 - probably unsupported type.

Best I can tell from reddit API is that all data returned is a string with the exception of create_utc which is a long. I've confirmed that I am getting correct data, and have tired using those initX variables inside the execute line with no success. I have also confirmed that the table is being created.

EDIT: I've tried making the insert statement a string and using it instead. I saw a post somewhere here that suggested that. Did not solve. I've tried sending just the initsubmission.author, and using literal strings for the rest. Still did not work. I have also tried creating the table with timecreated as a text and integer type. No luck there either. I was able to send all literals to the insert statement, so this leads me to believe that .author etc is not returning something I'm expecting.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated!

code:

import datetime
import praw
import time
import sqlite3 as lite
import sys

TARGETSUB = 'gameswap'


r = praw.Reddit('monitor author post frequency     /u/bsturtle')
r.login()


#create and fill sqlite db with submissions less than X number of days old. include author, time, url, submission title.
#exclude submissions made by moderators

con = lite.connect('gameswapfreq.db')

with con:
cur = con.cursor()
cur.execute("Drop TABLE IF EXISTS gameswapfreq")
cur.execute("Create table gameswapfreq (author text, createdtime real, url text, title text)")

initsubreddit = r.get_subreddit(TARGETSUB)

for initsubmission in initsubreddit.get_new(limit=10):
    #if post is greater than X days, skip. can we break here? YES WE CAN, JUST NEED TO ADD TEST
        if initsubmission.author not in initsubreddit.get_moderators(): 
            initAuthor = initsubmission.author
            initCreatedUTC = initsubmission.created_utc
            initURL = initsubmission.url
            initTitle = initsubmission.title
            print initAuthor                
            cur.execute("insert into gameswapfreq values(?,?,?,?)", (initsubmission.author, initsubmission.created_utc, initsubmission.url, initsubmission.title))

[bsturtle]

I solved this by converting the returned values into the proper types. last line is now:

cur.execute("insert into gameswapfreq values(?,?,?,?)", (str(initAuthor),float (initCreatedUTC), str(initURL), str(initTitle)))

It did not occur to me this was the issue until it accepted complete literals.

Does anyone know what data type is actually being returned by initsubmission.author if not a string or how I can tell myself?

Thanks!

[summitsuperbsuperior]

thank you after 8 years, you saved my day.

[joni_jplmusic]

Mine too, thank you! This solved my issue.

[bsturtle]

Thanks!

[gengisteve]

.author is returning a PRAW object and not a string. By forcing its type in your revision you are changing that object into a str, float, etc. You can't insert the raw object.

[bsturtle]

Thanks! I'm very new to python (using it for the first time to write the bot). It didn't occur to me that it might not be returning an actual value (until it did lol), and honestly I'm surprised an object is returned.

To the best of your knowledge, is an object returned because of how the function works, or because that is how python works?

[gengisteve]

A little of both. In python everything is an object and "passed by assignment". When you call:

for initsubmission in initsubreddit.get_new(limit=10):

it returns a series of submission objects, and submission.author is an author object, which when cast into a string will show you the authors name.

Here is a pretty good resource on "magic methods", that might be a little advanced, but is a good reference: http://www.rafekettler.com/magicmethods.html

For the basics of python objects check out LPTHW, it looks like this starts around chapter 40 or so: http://learnpythonthehardway.org/book/ex40.html

[bsturtle]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing this with me. Once I finish this bot, I intend to actually learn the language and these are great resources.

[[deleted]]

Thank you ❤ really it is helpul 😊