Quick, newbie Python scoping question. How can I make sure that the original variables get changed in the for-loop below?
for name in [name_level_1, name_level_2, name_level_3, name_level_4]:
name = util.translate("iw", "en", name.encode('utf-8'))
print name_level_1
In other words, I want the print statement to print out the changed variable, not the original. Python doesn't have pointers, right?
Thanks!
I don't think you can do what you want to do.
To do something similar you can use indexing into the array:
names = [name_level_1, name_level_2, name_level_3, name_level_4]
for i in range(len(names)):
names[i] = util.translate("iw", "en", names[i].encode('utf-8'))
print names[0]
But normally for this sort of thing you would just use a list comprehension:
names = [name_level_1, name_level_2, name_level_3, name_level_4]
names = [util.translate("iw", "en", name.encode('utf-8')) for name in names]
Python has references and objects instead of pointers (from a conceptual level).
What you want to do is assign the new value of name_level_1 to some name that exists after the loop.
So, either unwrap the loop and use each name where you need it, e.g.
name_level_1_translated = util.translate("iw", "en", name_level_1.encode('utf-8'))
print name_level_1_translated
name_level_2_translated = util.translate("iw", "en", name_level_2.encode('utf-8'))
do_stuff(name_level_2_translated)
or, if you're going to use each name the same way, just create a list and use that everywhere.
names = [name_level_1, name_level_2, name_level_3, name_level_4]
translated_names = [util.translate("iw", "en", name.encode('utf-8')) for name in names]
for name in translated_names:
print name
You can also access them by index:
print names[0]
make name_level_1 an object:
class LevelOne(object):
def __init__(self):
self.x = 3
name_level_1 = LevelOne()
count = 0
for name in [name_level_1, LevelOne(), LevelOne()]:
name.x = count
print name_level_1.x
You can manipulate the names in the global namespace using globals():
for name,value in globals().items():
if name.startswith("name_level_"):
globals()[name] = util.translate("iw", "en", value.encode('utf-8'))
However, storing the names in an array or dict is probably a better idea.
Avoid polluting your namespace with lots of related variables, group them together in a dictionary or a list. e.g.
NAMES = { 'level_1': 'something', 'level_2': 'something else',
'level_3': 'whatever', 'level_4': 'and so on' }
for name in NAMES:
NAMES[name] = util.translate("iw", "en", NAMES[name].encode('utf-8'))
print NAMES['level_1']
