I don't think the write portion is supposed to be in there. I don't really understand why it is wrote in the instructions the way that it is, nor what the results are supposed to be, with it wrote that way. I do know that when you put write in there, it is supposed to write the input that a user types in, into a file, that can then be accessed and read later, if you choose a different option. Thank you for your input towards a solution.

I don't have a link but I can copy and paste, the instructions come to us in a word document.

Lab 10.3 – File Access and Python Code The goal of this lab is to convert the blood drive program from Lab 10.1 to Python code.

Step 1: Start the IDLE Environment for Python. Prior to entering code, save your file by clicking on File and then Save. Select your location and save this file as Lab10-3.py. Be sure to include the .py extension.

Step 2: Document the first few lines of your program to include your name, the date, and a brief description of what the program does.

Step 3: Start your program with the following code:

Lab 10-3 Blood Drive

the main function

def main():
  endProgram = 'no'
  print
  while endProgram == 'no':
    option = 0
    print
    print 'Enter 1 to enter in new data and store to file'
    print 'Enter 2 to display data from the file'
    option = input('Enter now ->')
    print

    # declare variables
    pints = [0] * 7
    totalPints = 0
    averagePints = 0

    if option == 1:
      # function calls
      pints = getPints(pints)
      totalPints = getTotal(pints, totalPints)
      averagePints = getAverage(totalPints, averagePints)

    else:


    endProgram = raw_input('Do you want to end program? (Enter no or yes): ')
    while not (endProgram == 'yes' or endProgram == 'no'):
      print 'Please enter a yes or no'
      endProgram = raw_input('Do you want to end program? (Enter no or yes): ')

#the getPints function
def getPints(pints):
  counter = 0
  while counter < 7:
      pints[counter] = input('Enter pints collected: ')
      counter = counter + 1
  return pints

#the getTotal function
def getTotal(pints, totalPints):
  counter = 0
  while counter < 7:
    totalPints = totalPints + pints[counter]
    counter = counter + 1
  return totalPints

#the getAverage function
def getAverage(totalPints, averagePints):
  averagePints = float(totalPints) / 7
  return averagePints

#the writeToFile function
def writeToFile(averagePints, pints):

#the readFromFile function
    def readFromFile(averagePints, pints):

# calls main
main()

Step 4: Under option 1 in main, add a function call to writeToFile and pass it averagePints and pints. This should be done after the other calls. This should look as follows:

      writeToFile(averagePints, pints)

Step 5: Under option 2 in main, add a function call to readFromFile and pass it averagePints and pints. This should be done after the other calls. This should look as follows:

      readFromFile(averagePints, pints)

Step 6: Under the documentation and the function header for the writeToFile function, create an outFile and call the open function. Pass this function the name of the text file and open it in append mode. This should look as follows:

  outFile = open('blood.txt', 'a') 

Step 7: The next step is to write the string ‘Pints Each Hour’ to the file. This is done as follows:

  print >> outFile, 'Pints Each Hour'

Step 8: Initial counter to 0 and add a while loop with the condition of counter < 7. Inside the while loop, write the value of the array pints to the file. This should look as follows:

outFile.write(str(pints[counter]) + '\n')
    counter = counter + 1

Step 9: Outside the while loop, write the string ‘Average Pints’ to the file.

Step 10: Next, write the averagePints variable to the file. This should look as follows:

  outFile.write(str(averagePints) + '\n\n')

Step 11: The last item in this function is to close the outFile. This is done as follows:

  outFile.close()

Step 12: Under the documentation and the function header for the readFromFile function, create an inFile and call the open function. Pass this function the name of the text file and open it in read mode. This should look as follows:

  inFile = open('blood.txt', 'r')

Step 13: Next, read in the string ‘Pints Each Hour’ and print this to the screen. This is done as follows:

  str1 = inFile.read()
  print str1

Step 14: Read in the pints array as an entire list and print this to the screen. This is done as follows:

  pints = inFile.read()
  print pints
  print  #adds a blank line

Step 15: Read in the string ‘Average Pints’ and print this to the screen.

Step 16: Read in averagePints and print this to the screen.

Step 17: Close the inFile.

Step 18: Run your program and for the first execution, select option 1. Run the program more than once and enter at least 2 sets of data. The append mode should keep track of everything. The contents of your file will be stored in the same directory that your Python code is in. Paste the contents of the file below:

PASTE CONTENTS HERE

Step 19: Run your program again and select option 2 on the first iteration. This should display to the screen information that is stored in your file.

Step 20: Execute your program so that it works and paste the final code below

PASTE CODE HERE

Some things, I've had to modify, such as where the raw_input is, I just have input. I guess the version I am using, of Python, is older or newer and so the raw_input doesn't work with my version. The other thing that I've had to modify is the lack of parenthesis around the print statements. My version won't print and will result in errors, if I don't put parenthesis. Also, in some areas where the result is supposed to be an integer, I have write it int(input(...)) I also often have to play with the tabs/spacing until I finally get something that will work, but it doesn't seem to be the same each time, I write a program.

Seeing as the instructor never assigned Lab 9 to us and Lab 10-3,4,5 all reference a Lab 9. I think I've made some progress, surprisingly but still not quite there.

The lack of parentheses around the argument to "print" clearly identify your course material as based on Python version 2 (old). The syntax shown for step 7 is also for the old version and no longer valid.

The line I already gave you can be used as the Python 3 equivalent.

Oh, well that would explain that then, I was thinking I had the older version. Ok, let me give it a go. Thank you for the explanation and for being so patient.

Holy crap Batman, You're right! It worked. Well, mostly, my average came up to 0. So, I gotta figure out why the math didn't do anything but other than that, it worked! Thank you, thank you, thank you!