open a file read lines break the string and write to a file in a different order PYTHON

Question

I have a list in a file looks like this:

Adair, KY
Jackson, MS
Chicago, IL
ALASKA

I need to split the strings and re-write them to a new file like this:

KY:Adair
MS:Jackson
IL:Chicago

leaving out the state only names.

this is what I have so far:

county_file = open("c:\\Python 3.8.3\\us-counties.2.txt", "r")
lines = county_file.readlines()
state_file = open("c:\\Python 3.8.3\\Ronnie.Vincent.County.Seats.manipulated.txt", "w")

for aline in lines:
    values = aline.split()
    print(values[1],':', values[0])
      
state_file.close()    
county_file.close()

I keep getting a 'list index out of range' error because the State only names do not have a values[1]. I can not figure out how to leave the state only names out. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm stuck.

could you use code blocks for code (and file content) to make it readable? — Lukr, Jul 19 '20 at 16:23
If this answer worked, you could accept it by checking the mark besides the answer.:) — Kevin Mayo, Jul 19 '20 at 16:39

Lukr · Accepted Answer · 2020-07-19T16:39:52.907

1

If you want to leave out the State only lines completly the simplest solution would be:

for aline in lines:
  try: 
    values = aline.split() 
    print(values[1],':', values[0])
  except IndexError:
    print('skipping line', aline)

edited Jul 19 '20 at 16:39

answered Jul 19 '20 at 16:26

Lukr

659
3
14

Sorry I'm completely green when it comes to programming. It gives me IndexOutOfRangeException not defined. Do I need to create a variable for it? – user13958943 Jul 19 '20 at 16:29
that was my bad, should be an IndexError not IndexOutOfRangeException. Fixed it in my answer. – Lukr Jul 19 '20 at 16:30

open a file read lines break the string and write to a file in a different order PYTHON

1 Answers1