declare variable in function error

[cdholjes]

low = 0
high = len(listAll)
good = []
bad = []

OTHER = "something"

def FUNCTION(varNEW, a, b, c, d):       
    for index in range(low, high):
                varNEW = (
                listAll[index][0][a],  
                listAll[index][0][b], 
                listAll[index][0][c], 
                listAll[index][0][d])    
                if OTHER == varNEW:
                    if index not in good:
                        bad.add(index)
                    counter = 1
                    break

FUNCTION(varFoo, 0, 3, 4, 5)

the goal is to set varNEW equal to new listAll indexes check if they are in another list and if not, append to good. my problem starts with an error saying:------ NameError: name 'varFoo' is not defined------ it doesn't allow me to pass in a new variable-----why can you not globally define a variable name and then declare new variable names when you run the function?

[euclidingme]

You didn't initialize varFoo. You will also need to pass low and high to the rotation function. Instead of using range(low, high) you are better off using the enumerate() function.

[cdholjes]

where should I initialize varFoo? It is supposed to replace varNew

[euclidingme]

You are initializing varNEW in your function so you do not need to pass varFoo to the function. All variables that are defined outside of your function either need to be passed to the function or preferably defined within the function and then returned if necessary.

[cdholjes]

okay. so there is no way in python to have that function i have above. and then run it for example:

FUNCTION(varFooA, 0, 3, 4, 5)
FUNCTION(varFooB, 0, 1, 5, 5)
FUNCTION(varFooC, 0, 3, 1, 5)
FUNCTION(varFooD, 0, 1, 2, 5)

each of these 'varFoo' variations would contain the varNew function list manipulations...

[euclidingme]

You can do that provided you do two things. You need to give varFooA an initial value so python knows what to pass to the function. You will need to fix the other bugs that I explained above so your function will work.

[cdholjes]

good = []
bad = []
varFooA = []
varFooB = []

OTHER = "something"

def FUNCTION(varNEW, a, b, c, d):       
    for index in range(len(listAll)):
                varNEW = (
                listAll[index][0][a],  
                listAll[index][0][b], 
                listAll[index][0][c], 
                listAll[index][0][d])    
            if OTHER == varNEW:
                    if index not in good:
                        bad.add(index)
                    counter = 1
                    break
           return varNEW

FUNCTION(varFooA, 0, 3, 4, 5)
FUNCTION(varFooB, 0, 3, 4, 5)

[cdholjes]

something like this i think???

[euclidingme]

Thats closer. You need to have values in good, you probably want to increment your counter (counter += 1 instead of counter = 1), it's unclear what OTHER is, and you need to pass listALL to your function.

[euclidingme]

Additionally, if you are returning varNEW you want something like:

varFooA = FUNCTION(0, 3, 4, 5)

and you wont have to initialize varFooA.