python dictionary to file

Question

At the moment I'm trying to write a dictionary to a file (in the same way the file is read). I thought using pandas was a good idea (since I also use it for reading of the same file), but that doesn't do what I want.

My data looks someting like this:

dict = {'x': np.array([1,2,3,4,5,etc.]), 'h': np.array([4,5,6,7,8,etc.])}

I want this data to be written to a file in the following format (since I retrieve it in this way as well):

x          h
1          4
2          5
3          6
4          7
5          8
etc.       etc.

I tried this, which works, but not in the way I want it:

a = pd.Series(dict)
a.to_csv(filename, sep='\t')

Any advice on how to do this (or is it easier to write it using just python?)

"I tried this, which works, but not in the way I want it:" What is happening instead? — YXD
– YXD, Commented Nov 21, 2014 at 11:14
@MrE I've just tried it, it writes a file with two lines, h [4 5 6 7 8] and x [1 2 3 4 5]. — Carsten
– Carsten, Commented Nov 21, 2014 at 11:15

Carsten · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-21 11:23:10Z

1

Since you have multiple series of data, the right data structure for you in Pandas is the DataFrame. Having a look at the options for writing CSV files, I see that for your desired output, I also have to pass the argument index=False (otherwise it would write the row numbers in the first column).

import pandas as pd
d = {'x': np.array([1,2,3,4,5]), 'h': np.array([4,5,6,7,8])}

a = pd.DataFrame(d)
a.to_csv("testfile.txt", sep="\t", index=False)

This code produces the following text file:

PS: Don't create a variable named dict. It'll overwrite the type.

answered Nov 21, 2014 at 11:23

Carsten

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