python program to read k3b playlist

flebber · 06-01-2007, 06:16 AM

Hi I was/am learning python and I was trying to make a program that will be able to read a k3b playlist file and print the output to a word document such as abiword, openoffice etc.

The *.k3b filetype is a sort of zip file containing 2 files maindata.xml and mymetypes.

How can I unzip/open a file in a python program. Here is my current rudimentary program.

Quote:

#!/usr/bin/python

import xml # hoping this will allow me to read xml files

playlist_file = open(raw.input("Open which k3b playlist?: "))

# this is where I need to open .k3b file to xml file

reader = xml.reader(playlist_file)

for line in reader:
print line # will make open with abiword or other when rest working

playlist_file.close()

ghostdog74 · 06-01-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flebber

How can I unzip/open a file in a python program.

to unzip/zip files , see here
to open a file, use the open() file method. See the official python docs or a random site here

flebber · 06-02-2007, 08:47 PM

Thanks, I guess the problem I am having is getting my mind around in one process is getting the raw input and double opening (zip, read xml) in one process. So Do i have to put raw.input into the first open and then reaccess the xml file through a new open command, is that the best way ?

ghostdog74 · 06-02-2007, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flebber

Thanks, I guess the problem I am having is getting my mind around in one process is getting the raw input and double opening (zip, read xml) in one process. So Do i have to put raw.input into the first open and then reaccess the xml file through a new open command, is that the best way ?

do it systematically

Code:

choice=raw_input("Ask user to enter file name here:")
## check user input code here
## if everything ok, open the file
f = open(choice) # r,w,a etc etc
...
..

flebber · 06-07-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

#!/usr/bin/python

import os
playlist_file = open('/home/flebber/oddalt.k3b')
os.system("cd /tmp && unzip " "playlist_file");

playlist_data = "/tmp/maindata.xml"

for line in playlist_data:
print line

playlist_file.close()

That is my program so far however it doesn't read the file properly. This is all it is doing

Quote:

>>>
/
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m
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/
m
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d
a
t
a
.
x
m
l
>>>

It is not reading the file only the filename

ghostdog74 · 06-07-2007, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Code:

import os
playlist_file = open('/home/flebber/oddalt.k3b')

i usually write

Code:

mypath = os.path.join("/home","flebber","oddalt.k3b")

but its up to you. anyway, from above, playlist_file is a file handle.
so this:

Quote:

Code:

os.system("cd /tmp && unzip " "playlist_file");

i don't understand. you can't unzip a file handle. to zip/unzip files in python, you can use
the gzip/zipfile modules. check the Python docs for more info on these 2 modules.
To change directory, use os.chdir("/tmp"). you should really learn how Python works by reading the relevant docs first.

Quote:

Code:

playlist_data = "/tmp/maindata.xml"
for line in playlist_data:
print line
playlist_file.close()

you defined playlist_data as xml file, and to print the contents of that xml file, you
have to open it, like this

Code:

for line in open(playlist_data):
    print line

do you really have to do this in Python?

flebber · 06-07-2007, 06:19 PM

Thanks for the reply I do appreciate the effort. I am reading "Beginning Python" by Hetland the Python.org docs and stuff I find on the net. Was actually trying to do a few small projects to reinforce what I am reading as for me anyway I was over halfway in the Hetland book and had a lot of theory but no practical so I was starting to get confused or overwhelmed. Thats why I really enjoyed this website http://programming-crash-course.com/ (It is very Hands on).

I got that unzip example from devshed

Quote:

import os

# unzip the file to /tmp/
os.system("cd /tmp/ && unzip " + zip_location);

maindata_location = "/tmp/maindata.xml"

# read the xml data

ghostdog74 · 06-07-2007, 08:40 PM

try to refrain from shelling out to call commands from within python wherever possible as it is not portable way of coding. Python comes with modules that can perform OS functions. for that os.system() eg you gave, you can use the gzip/zipfile module as i have mentioned.
As you are learning python, i recommend the Python documentation site. you have everything you need there. Also take a look at the tutorial.