[Tutor] calling subroutines into program

[Karen Leever]

Hello,

I've been writing some small python programs that basically do function 
analysis on the (x,y) output of a fortran code called COBRA.
The COBRA output (basin.out) is the shape of a flexed beam, of which I 
calculate the 0-crossing, x and y of max. amplitude, and cross sectional 
area between function and y=0.

I managed to make python calculate these things, so it actually works. No 
problems there.
However, I'd like to make the format a bit more elegant. Each python 
program consists of several components, some of which occur in each of the 
programs. These components comprise: (1) reading the COBRA output file and 
write the contents to an array, (2) reading a second COBRA output file for 
reference values. See below for an example.

How can I refer in my programs to these components without actually 
incorporating them in the program?
I don't see how I could define them as functions.
And "import 'component'.py" does not work either: I tried this but it will 
not recognize the array arr_xy (defined in 'component'.py) later on.

thanks for suggestion or reference,

Karen


example of (1):
---------------------------------------------------------
#this part of the program reads the file basin.out (the data we want to 
analyze) and changes its contents to the array arr_xy
#layout of basin.out:
#1  -950.00    10.00 200        > this line contains start, interval and 
number of x values;
#    0.000000E+00               > remainder is a column of y values
#   -1.931787E-07
#   -5.713295E-07
#   -9.322559E-07
#   -1.071361E-06
#   -7.801342E-07
#    .....

import re

#open the (x,y) output file
cobra_xy_file = open('/home/tecguest/leek/Suncobra/Screen/basin.out')


#read first line and change it to a list so it can be read by the program
firstline = cobra_xy_file.readline()
p = re.compile(r'\s+')
list = p.split(firstline)


#from the list defined above, x-values have to be calculated.
#the list contains strings that are converted to integers before they can 
be used in further calculations
start = int(float(list[1]))
interval = int(float(list[2]))
n = int(float(list[3]))
stop = start + n*interval
arr_x = range(start, stop, interval)    #the calculated x-values are stored 
in 1D array arr_x (note, fake array, is really a list)


#the list of calculated x values, together with the y values in the 
cobra_xy_file have to be put in an array: arr_xy
#first define the new array:
arr_xy = []

#then fill the array with the x and y values:
for i in range(0, len(arr_x)):
     sub_arr_xy = []
     sub_arr_xy.append(arr_x[i])
     sub_arr_xy.append(float(cobra_xy_file.readline()))
     arr_xy.append(sub_arr_xy)

#print 'These are the first values from the x,y file:'
#print arr_xy[:5]
#print

cobra_xy_file.close
--------------------------------------------------------




 >>> please note new phone and fax number <<<
----------------------------------------------------
Karen Leever
Department of Tectonics
Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1085
1081 HV Amsterdam
The Netherlands

tel: +31 20 598 7278
fax: +31 20 598 9943
@: karen.leever at falw.vu.nl
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