[Tutor] Just Joined!

[Walter Prins]

On 12 May 2011 12:34, Alex Smith <alexsmith24871 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I just joined this list and am really new to python. I have an assignment
> to create a function with (a_string, width) which returns the a_string with
> all the lower case characters changed to upper case characters and vice
> versa and centered; was wondering if someone could point me in the right
> direction. I am not just asking for the answer but just need a few tips to
> get started. So far I do know I should use the dir(str)
> and do not quite understand what the "width" option is used for....
>
> I think you're missing the point about the suggestion to use dir() -- as
per the help you yourself retrieved, dir returns "an alphabetized list of
names comprising (some of) the attributes of the given object, and of
attributes reachable from it..."  The suggestion to do dir(str) was intended
as a way to learn about how string objects work in Python, not that it
should be used directly in the source code of your solution.

For example, "dir(str)" lists an interesting attribute (in this case a
method) called "swapcase"... now investigating this by doing
"help(str.swapcase)" you get:
>>> help(str.swapcase)
Help on method_descriptor:

swapcase(...)
    S.swapcase() -> string

    Return a copy of the string S with uppercase characters
    converted to lowercase and vice versa.

Sounds relevant to your goals. ;)

As for the "width" question, think about the requirement to "center" the
string.  Centered with reference to what?  How are you going to center
something if you don't know how wide the thing you're centering on, is?

Walter
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.python.org/pipermail/tutor/attachments/20110512/82f4ed55/attachment.html>