[Tutor] Beginning Python 3.4.0 Programmer:Stephen Mik: Cannot get input variable to make While Loop conditional to work

[Alan Gauld]

On 21/04/14 19:12, Stephen Mik wrote:

> ...I am inputting or trying to input,a Sentry Variable
> to a While Loop. I want to test out the Main program" While" Loop before
> I add an inner "While" Loop. The program I have written,when run on the
> Python 3.4.0 Shell,does not stop for input of the "While" Sentry
> Variable,it just gives a program error: "Value of smv_grandVariable
> undefined". What am I doing wrong here?

 > import random
 > ...
 > print("Do you want to play the game?\n")
 > print("Enter a 1 to play or 0 to exit:")

 > input(smv_grandVariable)

You have completely misunderstood input...

input takes as an argument a prompt string and returns the value
input by the user so your usage should look like:

smv_grandVariable("Enter a 1 to play or 0 to exit:")

But that's a terrible name for a variable. You should name
variables after their purpose. What does this variable
represent? You say its a sentry? So call it sentry...
Having the word "variable" in a variable name is
nearly always a mistake.

 > while (smv_grandVariable == 1 and smv_grandVariable != 0):

And your second mistake is that you have not converted the
string typed by the user to a number(specifically an int)
but you are comparing the variable to the numbers 0,1

Finally the logic of your test can be replaced by
the simpler

while int(smv_grandVariable) != 0:

since 1 is also not zero.

HTH
-- 
Alan G
Author of the Learn to Program web site
http://www.alan-g.me.uk/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alangauldphotos