How to change a text file into a list?

Question

I already know how to get a text file into python but...I now want to turn that file into a list.

My file:

1
2
3

My code:

file = open("File.txt", "r")
file = list(file)

Is there a way to actually make it into something that works? And if you find an answer please make it simple.

What do you mean "something that works". The code you posted *works*, so what is your question? — juanpa.arrivillaga, May 03 '17 at 17:28

tim · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-03T17:31:56.827

1

EDIT My final solution. Thanks to @juanpa.arrivillaga for the hint that the intermediate iterator-operation is not necessary

map(str.strip, open('asd.txt'))

Or if you like it more, then this:

[x.strip() for x in open('File.txt')]

edited May 03 '17 at 17:31

answered May 03 '17 at 17:25

tim

9,896
20
81
137

Why `tuple()` and not `list()`? – OneCricketeer May 03 '17 at 17:27
Because I thought `touple(open(xx))` would be a "hidden" gem; didnt know that `list(open(xx))` does work exactly the same. – tim May 03 '17 at 17:28
1

What do you mean a "hidden" gem? – juanpa.arrivillaga May 03 '17 at 17:29
1

Both open the generator and build an iterable. I was just curious – OneCricketeer May 03 '17 at 17:30
1

Why use `list` or `tuple` at all? You can `map` or use a list comprehension directly on the file-handler without creating an unecessary intermediate data structure. – juanpa.arrivillaga May 03 '17 at 17:30
Thanks for that hint; I edited my answer; seems the most simple, short, and concise version to me now – tim May 03 '17 at 17:32
1

Personally, I like `rstrip('\n')` as the leading/trailing spaces might need preserved – OneCricketeer May 03 '17 at 17:33

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered May 03 '17 at 17:27

0

$ echo -e "one\ntwo\nthree" > /tmp/list.txt
$ cat /tmp/list.txt 
one
two
three
$ python -c "fh = open('/tmp/list.txt'); print(fh.readlines())"
['one\n', 'two\n', 'three\n']

answered May 03 '17 at 17:27

Kenneth D.

845
3
10
18

1

Not sure the shell is necessary just to answer `readlines()`... – OneCricketeer May 03 '17 at 17:30
true, it seemed simplest for creating the txt file used in the example as well, but you are right, it adds an unnecessary abstraction SollyBunny may not be familiar with – Kenneth D. May 03 '17 at 17:36

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 03 '17 at 17:39

0

Try this:

f = open('filename.txt').readlines()
f = [int(i.strip('\n')) for i in f]

print(f)

answered May 03 '17 at 17:39

Ajax1234

69,937
8
61
102

Simon Hobbs · Answer 4 · 2017-05-17T16:26:39.480

-2

you could use numpy's loadtxt if your entries are numbers

import numpy as np
data = np.loadtxt('test.txt')

edited May 17 '17 at 16:26

answered May 03 '17 at 17:37

Simon Hobbs

990
7
11

How to change a text file into a list?

4 Answers4