Read a data from terminal within a script

Question

I wanted to read a variable from terminal by running a script. This is my script.py:

while True:
  value = input('enter text: ')
  if value == 'stop':
    print('bye-bye')
    break
  else:
    print('continue!')

However, when I ran python script.py, something weird happened. If i entered int-data (for instance 1,2,3), there was no problem. If i entered 'stop', I just got an error:

SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Possible duplicate of [Command-line input causes SyntaxError](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2589309/command-line-input-causes-syntaxerror) ---- You're running python 2 so you need `raw_input`. This is python 3 code, where `raw_input` was replaced by `input`. — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 13:55
Thank you, but really? i can't. Do you know how to post a picture in the comment? — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 13:55
input text:'stop' Traceback (most recent call last): File "test.py", line 11, in value = input('input text:') File "", line 1 'stop' ^ — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 13:56
@harry you can edit your question to add new information. Don't post a picture of the traceback. Copy, paste and format it. -- anyway, this is solved. — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 13:58
@Harry What is the result of `import sys; print(sys.version)` at the top of your script? — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 13:59
@FHTMitchell 2.7.12 (default, Dec 4 2017, 14:50:18) [GCC 5.4.0 20160609]. Ah, i changed to raw_input, but i still get the error.. — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 14:01
@Harry So it's python 2.7.12, not python 3... You still get the exact same error with `raw_input`? — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 14:02
@FHTMitchell, yep...But i noticed that if i enter ''stop, the second ' would be eaten... — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 14:03
@Harry Can you please edit your original post with the error you get when using `raw_input`? — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 14:07
@FHTMitchell, i was using a german keyboard. But after i changed to the english one. it was solved...So basically, i have to use the english keyboard, right? — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 14:08
err unless you're inputting unicode characters like ß, ä, ö, ü that shouldn't matter. My suggestion is you should upgrade to python 3, use your original code and not care about unicode. — FHTMitchell, Jun 21 '18 at 14:12
@FHTMitchell, thanks for your suggestions! Thanks! It works. — Harry, Jun 21 '18 at 14:13

Gsk · Answer 1 · 2018-06-21T14:33:34.610

0

You are probably using Python2. In Python2 input() returns an int, for having a string you should use raw_input():

while True:
  value = raw_input('enter text: ')
  if value == 'stop':
    print('bye-bye')
    break
  else:
    print('continue!')

Do not use input() in Python2 since it actually evaluates the input, and it can be dangerous. See this other question for the difference from Python3 and Python2 input().

When you change to raw_input(), be sure to save before calling the script

edited Jun 21 '18 at 14:33

answered Jun 21 '18 at 14:25

Gsk

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Accept the Answer that helped you, or create a new one and accept that :) – Gsk Jun 22 '18 at 06:18

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 21 '18 at 14:26

def console(input_):
    input_ = input(r'Enter text: ')
    if input_ == str(r'stop'):
        return ("BYE BYE")
    else:
        input_ = input('continue')
    console(input_)

console(input)

Works fine on python3.

Read a data from terminal within a script

2 Answers2