Fundamental Function Question (beginner)

[Phlip]

MRAB wrote:

> Scott wrote:

>> for prtnmS in open(portfpth):
>>     prtnmS = prtnmS.rstrip()

> There's nothing wrong with building dicts or other lookup tables outside
> a function in order to avoid re-creating them every time the function is
> called.

However, please consider writing complete, pronounceable names for variables. 
This looks like Fortran!