[Tutor] File Input of "Objects"

[Chuck Allison]

Hello tutor,

  I notice that with 'print >> f' one can print the string
  representation of objects to a file. Is there a corresponding input
  facility that parses through a file creating objects? I can't find
  one. In the meantime, I did this:

>>> f = open('out.dat','w')
>>> print >> f, 1, 2
>>> f.close()
>>> s = open('out.dat').read()
>>> x,y = tuple(map(eval,s.split()[:2]))
>>> x,y
(1, 2)  

This is just what came to mind without thought. Is there a Pythonic
way to read formatted objects? Thanks.

-- 
Best regards,
 -- Chuck Allison