text manipulation

[Martin Franklin]

Johhny wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> I am trying to write a script in python (to replace a perl script with
> limited functionality). Now I have some issues. Currently I am using
> the perl to load the file then regex parse certain lines to remove
> characters (uncomment lines and change variables). I would like to take
> that into the python script. I have had a look at the module "string"
> and I dont think its what Im looking for.
> 
> Here is an example of some text I would like to manipulate
> 
> #comment here
> #user_defined_variable = no
> #
> 
> I would like to make that
> 
> #comment here
> user_defined_variable = yes
> #
> 
> With perl/sed Its very easy, However Im having issues to do it in
> python. Any advice would be great.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Johhny.
> 


forget regular expressions for this job... strings have methods in
python so for example:


for line in file:
     if line.startswith("#user_defined_variable = no"):
         line.replace("#user_defined_variable = no",
             "user_defined_variable = yes")

... continue processing file / writing out stuff as you go


Cheers
Martin