add new field(column) to a file

[mari2025]

Hello,
I am beginner in Python and I need your guidance about the task I am given. I have to read a laser data file in python and then add two new columns to the data and fill them with specific integer values. I was able to read the file but was not successful in adding the new columns.I would be happy if you can kindly help me with it.

f = file("E:/SAGA/data/325125404.all", "r")
>>> f.read()
>>> w = file("E:/SAGA/data/325125404a.all", "w")
>>> t=[]
>>> for line in f.readlines():
    t.append('\n',1)
    w.writelines(t)
    w.close()

[bvdet]

Let's assume you want a comma delimited file, and you want to add two columns with the numbers 1 and 2 to each line. This is untested:

data = open("E:/SAGA/data/325125404.all", "r").readlines()
output = ["%s,%s,%s" % (item.strip(), 1, 2) for item in data]
f = open("E:/SAGA/data/325125404_modified.all", "w")
f.write("\n".join(output))
f.close()

I would suggest a different file name for the output, at least for testing.

[mari2025]

thank you very much for your prompt reply.
I tried it and works. Moreover,
if I want to add the new column using space between the new and the others what should I do?

[mari2025]

I also have question about "%s,", does not it use for the strings? as the 1 and 2 are numbers, should I use integer?

[bvdet]

@mari2025
%s will type cast the numbers to str.

[bvdet]

The formatted string would be:
"%s %s %s" % (item.strip(), 1, 2)

[mari2025]

I have changed your code a bit and now it shows what I really want:

data = open("E:/SAGA/data/325125404.all","r").readlines()
output = ["%s\t%s" %(item.strip(),1) for item in data]
f = open("E:/SAGA/data/325125404_mod.all","w")
f.write("\n".join(output))
f.close()

but still I am not sure that no where I have introduced the new column type as integer, or maybe I am wrong as I am beginner in Python. I would be thankful if you guide me about it.

[bvdet]

Everything written to a file must be a string. File contents are read as strings and must be type cast if another object type is required.

[mari2025]

thank you very much for your helpful guidance. I would like to ask another question. I am going to apply the above code for many files those are in one folder. in your view, what is the fastest approach, I was thinking I should create a function or is there any other methods for to do it as quick as possible?