Saving to a text file on separate lines and then reading the lines back for the shopping list?

Question

Hi. I have been playing around with the extra credit for the shopping list, and adding what I have learnt in the later lessons to it. I have worked out how to save to a list to a txt file, however, cannot work out how to save each list item to separate lines in the text file, or how to relay it back.

Also, for formatting for asking questions. I'm not sure how to make sure all the code is in code formatting, and not with some of it in text form? Apologies in advance :)

Here is my code:

import os

import sys

shopping_list = []

# functions
def show_help():
    # print out instructions on how to use the app
    print("What should we pick up at the store?")
    print("""
Enter 'done' to stop adding items.
Enter 'show' to show items in shopping list.
Enter 'help' to show instructions.
Enter 'save' to save the list.
    """)

def clear():
    if os.name == 'nt':
        os.system('cls')
    else:
        os.system('clear')    

def show_list():
    # print out the list
    print("Here is your list:")

    with open('shop/shopping_list', 'r') as f:        
        for line in f:
            print(line)

def add_to_list(new_item):
    # add new items to our list
    # make a list that will hold onto our items
    shopping_list.append(new_item)
    print("Added {}. List now has {} items.".format(new_item, len(shopping_list)))

def save_list():

    with open("shop/shopping_list.txt", "w") as f:
        f.writelines(shopping_list)

    print("Your shopping list has been saved.")    

# Exit message
def exit():
    print ('Hope you have enjoyd making a shopping list.')
    start = input("Please press enter/return to continue to play again, or Q to exit  ")
    if start.lower() == 'q':
        print("Bye! Have a good day :)")
        sys.exit()
    else:
        main()

def main():     
    clear()
    show_help()

    while True:
        # ask for new items

        new_item = input("> ")
        clear()

        # be able to quit the app
        if new_item.lower() == 'done':
            exit()
        elif new_item.lower() == 'help':
            clear()
            show_help()
            continue
        elif new_item.lower() == 'show':
            clear()
            show_list()
            continue
        elif new_item.lower() == 'save':
            clear()
            save_list()
            continue
        add_to_list(new_item)

    if len(shopping_list) > 0:  
        show_list()

main()

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

Answer 1 · 2016-01-14T06:02:25Z

January 14, 2016 6:02am

I was able to get basic I/O working with these changes:

def show_list():
    # print out the list
    print("Here is your list:")

    # FIXED: add try block to catch if file not found
    try:
        # FIXED: changed file name to 'shopping_list.txt'
        with open('shop/shopping_list.txt', 'r') as f:
            for line in f:
                # strip EOL character, since 'print' adds one
                print(line.strip())
    except FileNotFoundError:
        print("No saved shopping list")


def save_list():
    with open("shop/shopping_list.txt", "w") as f:
        # FIXED: print each item to own line
        for item in shopping_list:
            # save each item with EOL character
            f.write("{}\n".format(item))

    print("Your shopping list has been saved.")

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Saving to a text file on separate lines and then reading the lines back for the shopping list?

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