[Tutor] raw_input function

[hcohen2]

Christopher Spears wrote:

>Where can I go to get some general information on how
>the raw_input function works?
>
>-Chris
>
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Chris,

Look at some of the books on python, e.g. 'Learning Python' new edition 
recently released or 'Core Python Programming'.

var_name = raw_input('Enter some information: ')

will always give you a sting result, even if you enter a list or some 
numeric type.  To convert to a particular type use a function on it:

var_float = float(raw_input('Enter some information: ')),

but I would enclose something like this within a try: ... except: construct.

Also you could use

var_name = input('Enter...')

this will return the actual type you entered.

Hope that helps a bit,
Herschel