Multiple initialization methods?

[Joe Francia]

On 16 Feb 2005 13:31:31 -0800, alex <alexander.dietz at mpi-hd.mpg.de> wrote:

> Hi,
>
> it is possible to define multiple initialization methods so that the
> method is used that fits?
>
> I am thinking of something like this:
>
>   def __init__(self, par1, par2):
>     self.init(par1, par2);
>
>   def __init__(self, par1):
>     self.init(par1, None)
>
>   def init(self, par1, par2):
>      ...
>      ...
>
> So if the call is with one parameter only the second class is executed
> (calling the 'init' method with the second parameter set to 'None' or
> whatever. But this example does not work.
>
> How to get it work?
>
> Alex
>

You can do this:

def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
   #args is a tuple of positional args
   #kwargs is a dict of named args
   print args, kwargs
   #real code here instead of lame print statements
   try:
     self.name = args[0]
   except IndexError:
     self.name = ''
   self.occupation = kwargs.get('occupation', '')

or even better, do this:

def __init__(self, name='', occuaption='', age=0):
   #named args with default values
   self.name = name
   self.occupation = occupation
   self.age = age

Based on this, you should have enough information to make your class work.

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