[Tutor] Now I have a variable-passing problem!

[Chris Keelan]

Thanks again to all who helped me with my list/iteration question.

Now I've made the following mess for myself:


def get_number():
    rawNum=raw_input("Enter a number between 0 and 10,000: ")
    
    try:
        num_int = string.atoi(rawNum)
        if (0 >  num_int) or (num_int > 10000):
            print 'Sorry, that number is not between 0 and 10000'
            get_number()

                    
    except ValueError:
        print "Try again. We need an integer between 0 and 10,000"
        get_number()

    return rawNum

>>Enter a number between 0 and 10,000: a
>>Try again. We need an integer between 0 and 10,000
>>Enter a number between 0 and 10,000: 50

Which, when I try to unit-test by entering a letter instead of an integer, 
gives me the following.

Traceback (innermost last):
  File "./6-8.py", line 127, in ?
    pretty=give_me_english(list)
  File "./6-8.py", line 114, in give_me_english
    ones = string.atoi(digit_list[0])
ValueError: invalid literal for atoi(): a


Here's what I don't understand: get_number() is called (function A) and 
assigns a raw input value to rawNum. When rawNum fails the "string.atoi" 
test, the function calls itself again (function B), assinging a new value to 
rawNum which does not get passed to the function A when the function B 
terminates. How do I (re)write the code so that function B  passes the 
correct value to function A?

Should I even bother or just re-write the body of the if-test to re-prompt 
without a recursive call?

- Chris