I have a file like this:
a
D
c
a
T
c
a
R
c
I want to delete from specific line (in this case 3) until another specific line (in this case 5), so the file would look like:
a
D
c
a
R
c
4
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1What kind of file are you reading in? What do you want to do with the file after you read it in and remove these lines? More information is needed to better answer the question.Michael S.– Michael S.2022-07-31 01:36:25 +00:00Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 1:36
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is a vcf file, i want to delete a specific contact, i've already did to separate any contact in a function, now i need to delete it if is repeatedmzvic– mzvic2022-07-31 01:38:28 +00:00Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 1:38
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You need to do the delete in place or in a seperate file ?Chiheb Nexus– Chiheb Nexus2022-07-31 01:39:18 +00:00Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 1:39
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delete from the same filemzvic– mzvic2022-07-31 01:39:56 +00:00Commented Jul 31, 2022 at 1:39
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1 Answer
I think this should work:
def delete_line_range(filename, start_line, end_line):
# read all lines
with open(filename, 'r') as f:
lines = f.readlines()
f.close()
with open(filename, 'w') as f:
# iterate trough lines
for i in range(len(lines)):
# check if line is out of range
if i < start_line or i > end_line:
f.write(lines[i])
f.close()
return
Or if you want to delete multiple ranges
def delete_line_ranges(filename, line_ranges):
# read all lines
with open(filename, 'r') as f:
lines = f.readlines()
f.close()
with open(filename, 'w') as f:
# iterate trough lines
for i in range(len(lines)):
# check if line is in range
in_range = False
for line_range in line_ranges:
if i >= line_range[0] and i <= line_range[1]:
in_range = True
break
# if not in range, write line
if not in_range:
f.write(lines[i])
f.close()
return
Where line_ranges is a list of tuples containing start and end line numbers.
Be aware that in both of these functions the line numbers start at 0. Means if you want to delete line 3 to 5 like in your example you need to subtract 1 from both start and end line number.
delete_line_range('test.txt', 2, 4) # deletes line 3 to 5 if you start counting from 1
Edit
Deleting Contacts out of vcf file.
Get range of specific contact:
def get_contact_range(filename, name):
# read all lines
with open(filename, 'r') as f:
lines = f.readlines()
f.close()
for i in range(len(lines)):
# check if line is start of contact
if lines[i].startswith('BEGIN:VCARD'):
start_line = i
continue
if name in lines[i]:
for j in range(i, len(lines)):
# check if line is end of contact
if lines[j].startswith('END:VCARD'):
end_line = j
return (start_line, end_line)
return None
print(get_contact_range('test.vcf', 'John Doe'))
test.vcf
BEGIN:VCARD
VERSION:3.0
PRODID:-//Apple Inc.//macOS 11.5.2//EN
N:Doe;John;;;
FN:John Doe
ORG:Sharpened Productions;
EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=HOME;type=pref:[email protected]
EMAIL;type=INTERNET;type=WORK:[email protected]
TEL;type=CELL;type=VOICE;type=pref:123-456-7890
ADR;type=HOME;type=pref:;;12345 First Avenue;Hometown;NY;12345;United States
ADR;type=WORK:;;67890 Second Avenue;Businesstown;NY;67890;United States
NOTE:The man I met at the company networking event. He mentioned that he had some potential leads.
item1.URL;type=pref:https://fileinfo.com/
item1.X-ABLabel:_$!!$_
BDAY:2000-01-01
END:VCARD
Output:
(0, 15)
Combine the above functions:
def delete_contact(filename, name):
# get start and end line of contact
contact_range = get_contact_range(filename, name)
# delete contact
delete_line_range(filename, contact_range[0], contact_range[1])
return
Multiple Contacts at once:
def delete_contacts(filename, names):
# get start and end line of contacts
line_ranges = []
for name in names:
contact_range = get_contact_range(filename, name)
line_ranges.append((contact_range[0], contact_range[1]))
# delete contacts
delete_line_ranges(filename, line_ranges)
return
