how to append two files within the same script after if loop statements OR how to append directly to text file. Python

Question

I have a script that I've been working on turning four individual steps(scripts) into 1. I'm down to my last problem and I know I'm over thinking it but need a bit of help to turn the corner.

I either need to figure out how to merge two files after the last IF-LOOP Statement or find some way to write directly to one text file from the script in the order needed (listed below as final).

Currently, the script shows I'm trying to merge(append) at the bottom after the IF-LOOP statements. If a more efficient way is better please shine some light for me. Just to be more clear hopefully, I have tried to write directly to one file and both if-Statement matches show up but my second da_list header repeats because it's inside the loop or doesn't show at all if I have the text header outside the loop. That's why you see the headers appearing before the if statements. Also, just so you know what the cf.txt file look like.

cf.txt example piece. Dots (periods) are one per column (A-D). Mixchar words start in column E

ABCDE

header row

. . . .  5J1SYMC2

. . . .  2TEHUOB1

. . . .  TWSIHNB2

. . . .  SYHNRWE2

. . . .  BFHYSJF1

cf = open(r"E:\test2\cf.txt", "r")
f = open(r"E:\test2\F.txt", "r")
da = open(r"E:\test2\DA.txt","r")
output5 = open(r"E:\test2\output5.txt", "a")
output6 = open(r"E:\test2\output6.txt", "a")

list2 = f.read().split()
list3 = da.read().split()

next(cf)
newlist = []
f_list = []
da_list = []

output5.write("                                  F_List \n")  #text header for output5
output5.write("\n")

output6.write("                                  Da_List \n") #text header for output6
output6.write("\n")

for line in cf:                     #cycles thru cf.txt column 5 removes last 2 chars_
rc = (line.split()[4][:-2])         #and append string(rc) in (newlist).
    if rc not in newlist:
    newlist = []
    newlist.append(rc)

    check = any(item in newlist for item in list2)  #check string(rc) if exist in f_list_
    if check is True:                               #clears previous f_list line and appends new.
        if rc not in f_list:
            f_list = []
            f_list.append(f'{rc}', ),
            output5.write(f'{f_list}'[2:-2]),       #writes (rc) strings that exist in f_list to 
            output5.write('\n')                     #output5.txt
            

    check = any(item in newlist for item in list3)  #check string(rc) if exist in da_list_
    if check is True:                               #clears previous da_list line and appends new.
        if rc not in da_list:
            da_list = []
            da_list.append(f'{rc}', ),
            output6.write(f'{da_list}'[2:-2]),      #writes (rc) strings that exist in f_list to 
            output6.write('\n')                     #output6.txt
            

fin = open(r"E:\test2\output6.txt", "r")    #trying to append output6.txt to output5.txt
data2 = fin.read()
fin.close()
fout = open(r"E:\test2\output5.txt", "a")
fout.write(data2)
fout.close()

Final result wanted in output5.txt file. F_list header with random mixchar words matches from (cf.txt) string and f_list. And the same for the da_list printed(appended) below.

                 F_List

2TEHUO

5JESYM

BFHYSJ

SYHNRW

TWSIHN

                 Da_List


HKHDU7

DJSKUO

DJDH8

KSIE3

SWSYR

Answer 1

One solution could be to just append the file to the second file. You should consider using variables for the file paths instead of copy-paste. Also, the name of the files is a bit confusing.

output5.close()
output6.close()
with open(r"E:\test2\output5.txt", 'a') as output5:
   with open(r"E:\test2\output6.txt", "r") as output6:
      output5.write(output6.read())

Relevant question about appending files

Here is a explanation of how you can use the with statement

Also, instead of writing the content directly to the files in the if statement, why not just store it into strings? Then in the end you could write it to a file.

If you try to read from a file, before closing it, the text won't show up. You can try the snippet below.

output5 = open(r"Test", "w")
output5.write("Foo")
output6 = open(r"Test", "r")
print(output6.read())