[Tutor] Matching zipcode in address file

[bob gailer]

On 4/4/2010 5:18 PM, TGW wrote:
> I wrote a script that compares two text files (one zip code file, and 
> one address file)  and tries to output records that match the 
> zipcodes. Here is what I have so far:
>
> #!/usr/bin/env python
> # Find records that match zipcodes in zips.txt
>
> def main():
>     infile = open("/Users/tgw/NM_2010/NM_APR.txt", "r")
>     outfile = open("zip_match_apr_2010.txt", "w")
>     match_zips = open("zips.txt", "r")
>
>     lines = [line for line in infile if line[149:154] in match_zips] # 
> *** I think the problem is here ***

Yep. You are right.

Try a very simple test case; see if you can figure out what's happening:

infile:
123
234
345

match_zips:
123
234
345

infile = open("infile")
match_zips = open("match_zips")
[line for line in infile if line in match_zips]

Now change infile:
123
244
345
and run the program again.

Interesting, no. Does that give you any insights?

>
>     outfile.write(''.join(lines))
>     infile.close()
>     outfile.close()
> main()
>
> I go the program functioning with
> lines = [line for line in infile if line[149:154] not in match_zips]
>
> But this matches records that do NOT match zipcodes. How do I get this 
> running so that it matches zips?
>
> Thanks

-- 
Bob Gailer
919-636-4239
Chapel Hill NC