[Tutor] Trying to access a random value in a list

[bob gailer]

On 1/12/2012 5:48 PM, Claude Matherne wrote:
> Hello all,
> I am a beginner to python and I am trying to make a simple program 
> that takes in some names as input into a list and then randomly picks 
> a vaule from that list as a winner.
> Here is the code:
> import random
> choice = None
> names = [ ]
> while choice != "0":
>     print(
>         """
>         0 - Exit
>         1 - Enter a name
>         2 - Pick a winner
>         """)
>     choice = input("Choice: ")
>     print()
>     if choice == "0":
>         print ("Goodbye.")
>     elif choice == "1":
>         name = input("Please enter a name: ")
>         names.append(name)
>         print (names, "have been entered.")
>     elif choice == "2":
>         pick = len(names)
>         win_number =random.randint(0,pick)
>         print (names[win_number], " is the winner!")
> input("/n/nPress enter to exit.")
> First problem, sometimes I get a error where the value is out of 
> range.  Problem becuase of the way I set up the random value.
randint returns random integer in range [a, b], including both end 
points. List indexes start at 0. Sufficient?

> Second problem, but not a big one, is when I print the lists of names 
> as they are entered, I get quotations around the name.
I bet you are seeing something like ['joe', pete'] since you are 
printing a list. true? In general copy and paste the undesired output in 
the email. Try print(','.join(names)

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