Bob wrote: > I want to open a file in a function and pass the file back to main so > another function can manipulate the file, something like this: > > # begin > def open_file() > filename=open(options.filename_input,'r') > return filename > > open_file() > print filename.read() > filename.close() > # end > > But this doesn't work... It appears that "open_file()" needs a > variable, but in order to pass a variable to "open_file()" I first need > a variable... but I would rather have the function send me "filename" > without creating it main. Is that possible? > > Is there a better way to have a function open a file and pass the file > back to main than what I am trying to do? Thanks! >
Your function returned filename but in the main program you didn't have anywhere for it to be saved. fp=open_file() print fp.read() fp.close() Others have pointed out the filename is a bad choice for a variable name as it is a pointer to a file object. Most tutorials and a lot of standard library code use fp. -Larry Bates -- http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/python-list
