[newbie]search string in tuples

[Scott David Daniels]

Viper Jack wrote:
> Hi all,
> i'm new to python programming so excuseme if the question is very stupid.
> here the problem.
> this code work
> 
> list=["airplane"]
> select=vars
> while select != list[0]:
>   select=raw_input("Wich vehicle?")
> 
> but i want check on several object inside the tuple so i'm trying this:
> 
> list=["airplane","car","boat"]
> select=vars
> while select != list[0] or list[1] or list[2]:
>   select=raw_input("Wich vehicle?")
> 
> but loops and doesn't want work.
> I have tried with other methods (for) but nothings.
> I haven't find nothing on this topic, so i asked here.
> Thanks in advance.


Normally you'd define a function doing the search and use it.
Don't be afraid to use more lines if your code is clear.

First, avoid using list as a name, it is already defined.
Second, None is the standard constant not really anything value.

     def missing(element, source):
         for part in source:
             if element == part:
                 return False
         return True

     vehicles = ["airplane", "car", "boat"]
     select = None
     while missing(select, vehicles):
         select = raw_input("Which vehicle?")


For this particular test, there happens to be an idiom you can use:

     vehicles = ["airplane", "car", "boat"]
     select = None
     while select not in vehicles:
         select = raw_input("Which vehicle?")


--Scott David Daniels
Scott.Daniels at Acm.Org