Bob Smith wrote: > Are these the same: > > 1. f_size = os.path.getsize(file_name) > > 2. fp1 = file(file_name, 'r') > data = fp1.readlines() > last_byte = fp1.tell() > > I always get the same value when doing 1. or 2. Is there a reason I > should do both? When reading to the end of a file, won't tell() be just > as accurate as os.path.getsize()? >
Read the docs. Note the hint that you get what the stdio serves up. ftell() can only be _guaranteed_ to give you a magic cookie that you may later use with fseek(magic_cookie) to return to the same place in a more reliable manner than with Hansel & Gretel's non-magic bread-crumbs. On 99.99% of modern filesystems, the cookie obtained by ftell() when positioned at EOF is in fact the size in bytes. But why chance it? os.path.getsize does as its name suggests; why not use it, instead of a method with a side-effect? As for doing _both_, why would you?? -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
