Getting a syntax error in PYcharm

Question

The code below when it is compiled in pycharm gives the error:

Traceback (most recent call last): File "ll.py", line 17, in <module> new_item = input("> ") File "<string>", line 1, in <module> NameError: name 'DONE' is not defined

but when it is run in the treehouse workspace it works without any errors

The code:

master_list = []

def add_to_list(item_to_be_added): master_list.append(item_to_be_added)

def show_help(): print("What should we pick up at the grocery store?") print("Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items") print("Enter 'HELP' for this help")

show_help() while True: new_item = input("> ")

if new_item == 'DONE':
    break
elif new_item == 'HELP':
    show_help()
    print()
    continue

add_to_list(new_item)

Can someone please tell me why this error is being reported?

Answer 1 · 2019-01-01T14:31:16Z

January 1, 2019 2:31pm

Please post the properly formatted code causing the error, check the markdown cheetsheet below for assistance.

I think you posted the working code, which works happy as can be in PyCharm. Your issue can be recreated by removing the single quotes around "'DONE'" on the if new_item... line. Generally when you get a "Name Error" xxx is undefined it is because it is looking for a variable name and you are thinking you are using a string. Missing the quotes is a common cause.

# Code works with single quotes - remove and test again, you get the same error message
master_list = []


def add_to_list(item_to_be_added):
    master_list.append(item_to_be_added)


def show_help():
    print("What should we pick up at the grocery store?")


print("Enter 'DONE' to stop adding items")
print("Enter 'HELP' for this help")

show_help()
while True:
    new_item = input("> ")
    if new_item == DONE: # missing quotes
        break
    elif new_item == 'HELP':
        show_help()
        print()
        continue

add_to_list(new_item)

# test and enter DONE and output is:
 if new_item == DONE:
NameError: name 'DONE' is not defined

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Amulya Arora

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Getting a syntax error in PYcharm

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