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Python SQLAlchemy Basics Working with SQLAlchemy Creating Our Book Database

Andy McDonald
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Andy McDonald
Python Development Techdegree Graduate 13,801 Points

How to identify empty query object when empty query is truthy?

Working on the project and if the app searches for a book thats not in the database I would like the app to say so. The best way I know how to do so is like so:

def delete():
    todel = input("What's the title of the book you want to delete?")
    dellie = models.session.query(models.Book).filter_by(title=todel)
    if dellie:
        for book in dellie:
            models.session.delete(book)
            models.session.commit()
            print('Alright that book is gone. Now what?')
    else:
        print('Cant find a book by that name. Try again.')

However, when I input a book title that does not exist it returns a query object that is truthy. Any suggestions?

[MOD: added ```python formatting -cf]

1 Answer

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

Hey Andy McDonald, then query method count() gives the size of the query result.

    if dellie.count() > 0:

    # OR in truthy fashion

    if dellie.count():

Post back if you need more help. Good luck!!!