how best to use a dictionary in this function?

[Terrence Brannon]

Ok, here is some code:

def calc_profit(std_clicks, vip_clicks, ad_rate=200,
upline_status=None):
payout = {}
payout_std = std_clicks * rates['std'].per_click
payout_vip = vip_clicks * rates['vip'].per_click
.... now note that std_clicks and vip_clicks are passed to the
function.

Now, I improved this function this way:

def calc_profit(std_clicks, vip_clicks, ad_rate=200,
upline_status=None):
clicks = {}
clicks['std'] = std_clicks
clicks['vip'] = vip_clicks

payout = {}
for member_type in rates:
payout[member_type] = clicks[member_type] *
rates[member_type].per_click

But it seems wasteful to have to re-bind the passed-in function args
to a dictionary in the function. I think there must be some way to
improve this code and get the dictionary built without me manually
doing it...

I know there is something like *args, or **args, but since
docs.python.org is down, I cant check.

[Aaron \Castironpi\ Brady]

On Oct 2, 4:18*am, Terrence Brannon <[e-mail]:

Ok, here is some code:

def calc_profit(std_clicks, vip_clicks, ad_rate=200,
upline_status=None):
* * payout = {}
* * payout_std = std_clicks * rates['std'].per_click
* * payout_vip = vip_clicks * rates['vip'].per_click

... now note that std_clicks and vip_clicks are passed to the
function.

Now, I improved this function this way:

def calc_profit(std_clicks, vip_clicks, ad_rate=200,
upline_status=None):
* * clicks = {}
* * clicks['std'] = std_clicks
* * clicks['vip'] = vip_clicks

* * payout = {}
* * for member_type in rates:
* * * * payout[member_type] = clicks[member_type] *
rates[member_type].per_click

But it seems wasteful to have to re-bind the passed-in function args
to a dictionary in the function. I think there must be some way to
improve this code and get the dictionary built without me manually
doing it...

I know there is something like *args, or **args, but since
docs.python.org is down, I cant check.

*args is for variable-length parameters, **args is for keyword
parameters.

>>def f( **kwar ):

.... print kwar
....

>>f( a=2, b=3 )

{'a': 2, 'b': 3}

>>f( 123 )

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: f() takes exactly 0 arguments (1 given)

>>f( a='abc' )

{'a': 'abc'}

[Tim Roberts]

Terrence Brannon <me******@gmail.comwrote:

>
Now, I improved this function this way:

def calc_profit(std_clicks, vip_clicks, ad_rate=200,
upline_status=None):
clicks = {}
clicks['std'] = std_clicks
clicks['vip'] = vip_clicks

You can also write it this way.
clicks = {
'std': std_clicks,
'vid': vip_clicks
}

>I know there is something like *args, or **args, but since
docs.python.org is down, I cant check.

The problem with using **args is that you can no longer pass your
parameters positionally. Callers of calc_profit would have to use named
parameters. It also makes your default arguments a bit less natural.
--
Tim Roberts, ti**@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.