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Python Python Basics (2015) Letter Game App Exiting

Didier Borel
Didier Borel
2,837 Points
Posted by Didier Borel
Didier Borel
2,837 Points

syntax error

can someone help me with this simple problem. Syntax error on an else: I don't see what the problem is, but i can't be very complicated

firedoor.py 
import sys
input("Do you want to start the movie? Y/N") 
if input()=='n'or'N':
    sys.exit
    else: print ("Enjoy the show!")

2 Answers

Chris Freeman
MOD
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points
Chris Freeman
Chris Freeman
Treehouse Moderator 68,423 Points

The syntax error is the indent of the else statement. The else should align with theif`:

import sys
input("Do you want to start the movie? Y/N") 
if input()=='n'or'N':
    sys.exit
else: print ("Enjoy the show!")  # <-- unindented

Additionally, there are some structural issues.

The if clause will always be True due to the or 'N' part which is always "truthy". Correct this by repeating the full comparison:

# first pass (still needs fix)
if input() == 'n' or input() == 'N':

The issue now is input() is run twice. (Three times if you count the original prompt). This can be fixed by using a variable to hold the input value:

# second pass (fixed)
result = input("Do you want to start the movie? Y/N")
if result == 'n' or result == 'N':

The body of the else block should be on its own line and properly indented.

A blank line is used after the import and spaces are used around keywords (like or), assignments (=), and comparisons (==) for readability.

Parens are needed in the call to sys.exit()

All together this would look like:

import sys

result = input("Do you want to start the movie? Y/N") 
if result == 'n' or result == 'N':
    sys.exit()
else: 
    print ("Enjoy the show!")