In Python, how to print a value from the list

Question

I want to print out a certain value from a list. Here is my code:

rdf_f = open("substrate.txt")
for line in rdf_f:
    fields = line.split()
    if len(fields) > 1:
        x = fields[1]
    print(x[2])

How can I correctly use the print() command to print out the 3rd value of x? Because I got an error:

IndexError: string index out of range

I know if x = [1,2,3,4,5,6], my code works. But here x is a perpendicular column. When I use print(x), the output is

If you replace print(x[2]) with print(x), what do you get? — thegrinner
– thegrinner, Commented Sep 18, 2013 at 15:37
Your x is a string and not a list! Because you assign the second string of the list fileds to it. — TobiMarg
– TobiMarg, Commented Sep 18, 2013 at 15:38
You are only assigning x a single value (the second one in your list you recieve by the line.split() function). BTW: You're code will also fail, when - for example - len(fields) <= 1 on the first call, because you want to print x which has never been assigned a value. — cyphorious
– cyphorious, Commented Sep 18, 2013 at 15:43
Could you post the full content of x (print(x)) right before the error occurs? — TobiMarg
– TobiMarg, Commented Sep 18, 2013 at 15:51

Srinivas Reddy Thatiparthy · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-18 15:37:26Z

5

You got that error because there are no items at that index. So you better use for loop. And print all items.

for item in fields:
    print item

OR

Check for the length of fields list and print accordingly.

   if len(fields)>3:
      print fields[3]

answered Sep 18, 2013 at 15:37

Srinivas Reddy Thatiparthy

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1 Comment

pepr Over a year ago

+1. It is often the problem when a text file is read. It often happens that the last line of a text file is the empty line that is not visible in editor by naked eye.

darmat · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-18 15:42:46Z

1

Your list is fields, not x. Perhaps the value you are looking for is fields[2]

answered Sep 18, 2013 at 15:42

darmat

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