Print string "like" the interactive interpreter?

Question

I like the way Python interactive interpreter prints strings, and I want to repeat that specifically in scripts. However, I can't seem to do that.

Example. I can do this in interpreter:

>>> a="d\x04"
>>> a
'd\x04'

However, I cannot replicate this in the python itself

$ python -c 'a="d\x04";print a'
d

I want this because I want to debug a code with a lot of string with similar non-printable characters.

Is there an easy way to do this?

@PadraicCunningham chuck it. Thanks to the down vote I got a hat. Yippee. :) — Bhargav Rao, Dec 31 '14 at 14:20

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 25 '14 at 18:00

6

Oh, that was fast.

I can just use repr() functon. That is, in my example,

python -c 'a="d\x04";print repr(a)'

answered Dec 25 '14 at 18:00

Karel Bílek

2

That is exactly what the interactive interpreter uses: if the result of the expression is not `None` it prints the `repr()` – Duncan Dec 25 '14 at 18:02

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 25 '14 at 18:02

4

You're looking for repr():

>>> a = 'd\x04'
>>> a
'd\x04'
>>> print(a)
d
>>> repr(a)
"'d\\x04'"
>>> print(repr(a))
'd\x04'

answered Dec 25 '14 at 18:02

Seth

I will accept your answer because it's better formated than my own :) thanks – Karel Bílek Dec 25 '14 at 18:03
You might get a hat if you accept your own question :D – Seth Dec 25 '14 at 18:04
Haha, well that's nice, but hats are for a few days while answers on SO stay for years :) – Karel Bílek Dec 25 '14 at 18:06

Bhargav Rao · Answer 3 · 2014-12-31T12:38:03.263

0

Make it a raw string (If possible)

$ python -c 'a=r"d\x04";print a'
d\x04
$ python -c 'a="d\x04";print "%r"%a'
d\x04

EDIT

As you said that you cannot make it a raw string, Then you will have to use repr() as stated in the other answer..

edited Dec 31 '14 at 12:38

answered Dec 25 '14 at 18:00

Bhargav Rao

2

That makes it a completely different string. – Duncan Dec 25 '14 at 18:01
Unfortunately, I do have a string that's not a "raw string" and I can't modify it in this way. – Karel Bílek Dec 25 '14 at 18:02

3 Answers3