Python arrays and sting formatting options

[Paul Probert]

Grant Edwards wrote:
> On 2008-09-30, Peter Pearson <ppearson at nowhere.invalid> wrote:
>> On Tue, 30 Sep 2008 00:04:18 +0200, Ivan Rebori wrote:
>>> 1. Multi dimensional arrays - how do you load them in python
>>> For example, if I had:
>>> -------
>>> 1 2 3
>>> 4 5 6
>>> 7 8 9
>>>
>>> 10 11 12
>>> 13 14 15
>>> 16 17 18
>>> -------
>>> with "i" being the row number, "j" the column number, and "k" the ..
>>> uhmm, well, the "group" number, how would you load this ?
>>>
>>> If fortran90 you would just do:
>>>
>>> do 10 k=1,2
>>> do 20 i=1,3
>>>
>>> read(*,*)(a(i,j,k),j=1,3)
>>>
>>> 20 continue
>>> 10 continue
>>>
>>> How would the python equivalent go ?
> 
> You would drag yourself out of the 1960s, install numpy, and
> then do something like this:
> 
>    a = read_array(open("filename.dat","r"))
> 
>> Since you're coming from the FORTRAN world (thank you for that
>> stroll down Memory Lane), you might be doing scientific
>> computations, and so might be interested in the SciPy package
>> (Google scipy), which gives you arrays and matrices. Don't
>> expect to be able to use it without learning some Python,
>> though.
> 
> If not full-up scipy (which provides all sorts of scientific
> and numerical-analysis stuff), then at least numpy (which
> provides the basic array/matrix operations:
> 
>   http://numpy.scipy.org/
> 
> Though the software is free, the documentation isn't.  You've
> got to buy the book if you want something to read.  IMO, it's
> definitely worth it, and a good way to support the project even
> if you don't really need something to keep your bookends apart.
clip ...
The book is free now, as of Aug 21, 08.
http://www.tramy.us/guidetoscipy.html

Paul Probert