[ python-Bugs-1036490 ] unicode strings cannot be dictionary keys

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Bugs item #1036490, was opened at 2004-09-28 21:50
Message generated for change (Comment added) made by mok0
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Category: Unicode
Group: Python 2.3
Status: Open
Resolution: None
Priority: 5
Submitted By: Morten Kjeldgaard (mok0)
Assigned to: M.-A. Lemburg (lemburg)
Summary: unicode strings cannot be dictionary keys

Initial Comment:
Lots of modules return unicode strings, for example the
xml parser. There is no reason why you shouldn't be
able to use a unicode string as key in a dictionary,
shelve or database lookup. I think this is more a bug
than a feature, since having to make sure what type
your keys are makes the code bloated and ugly.



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>Comment By: Morten Kjeldgaard (mok0)
Date: 2004-09-28 22:58

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=42755

You are right, unicode strings work in dictionaries. I
should have checked, sorry. However, they don't work in
shelves, as the attached script will demonstrate. You get a
type error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "fail.py", line 7, in ?
    x[a] = "arrrghhh"
  File "/usr/lib/python2.3/shelve.py", line 130, in __setitem__
    self.dict[key] = f.getvalue()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.3/site-packages/__init__.py", line
120, in __setitem__

TypeError: String or Integer object expected for key,
unicode found

I am using Python 2.3.3 on Linux

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Comment By: David Goodger (goodger)
Date: 2004-09-28 22:35

Message:
Logged In: YES 
user_id=7733

Unicode strings work as dictionary keys for me, in both
Python 2.3.3 and 2.4a3.  Are you sure of your assertion? 
Please provide some evidence.

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