This formating is really tricky

[Terry Reedy]

On 8/25/2014 4:14 PM, Seymore4Head wrote:
> import random
> sets=3
> for x in range(0, sets):
>      pb2=random.choice([1-53])

You want random.randint(1, 53)
...
>      alist = sorted([pb1, pb2, pb3, pb4, pb5])
>      print ("Your numbers: {} Powerball: {}".format(alist, pb6))
>
> I am trying this example.  The program works, but the numbers don't
> line up if the number of digits are different sizes.
> http://openbookproject.net/pybiblio/practice/wilson/powerball.php

To get them to line up, you have to format each one to the same width.

> Suggestion please?
> BTW the exercise instructions say to use the choice function.

import random
sets=3

def ran53():
     return random.randint(1, 53)

f1 = '{:2d}'
bform = "Your numbers: [{0}, {0}, {0}, {0}, {0}]".format(f1)
pform = " Powerball: {0}".format(f1)

for x in range(0, sets):
     balls = sorted(ran53() for i in range(5))
     print(bform.format(*balls), pform.format(ran53()))

> BTW the exercise instructions say to use the choice function.

I am not a fan of exercises that say to do something the wrong way, but 
if you really had to,

n54 = [i for i in range(1, 54)]
random.choice(n54)

An alternative to choosing numbers is to choose from 2-char number strings.

n53 = ['%2d' % i for i in range(1, 54)]

But then you have to figure out how to avoid having 6 pairs of quotes in 
the output ;=)

-- 
Terry Jan Reedy