[Tutor] modify csv textfile

[David Hutto]

On Sat, Aug 7, 2010 at 7:26 AM, Alan Gauld <alan.gauld at btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> "TGW" <galaxywatcher at gmail.com> wrote
>>
>> What I want to output is:
>> 12345|some text|some more text|example|example32423
>> 11223|more text|and more|example|example455667
>>
>> So column 4 is where the change occurs, but only if the beginning
>> of the string in column 4  =~ /^example/i  # and it should be case
>> insensitive
>>
>
>> reader = csv.reader(open(filename, 'rb'), delimiter='|',
>> quoting=csv.QUOTE_NONE)
>> for row in reader:
>>   print row
>>
>> ....
>> I can print the file, I just need a little help searching and replacing
>> the column 4 data element.
>
> OK, so I'm not sure which bit is confusing you.
> The reader returns a list of fields per row.
> You want the fourth column which is element 3 in row - ie. row[3]
> You can use startswith() or a regex to test the value
> You can replace the string with whatever you like since lists are mutable
> You can then store/write the modified list to whatever/wherever you like.
>
> Now which bit of that is causing you grief?

Probably the explanation. Mainly because of lack of documentation than
google terms, and appropriate questions
>
> --
> Alan Gauld
> Author of the Learn to Program web site
> http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
>
>
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