2.
Modules, Scripts, and I/O
Topics:
Script Mode
Modules
The print and input statements
Formatting
First look at importing stuff from
other modules
The Windchill Calculation
Let’s compute the windchill temperature given
that the air temperature is T = 32F and the wind
is W = 20mph.
Here is the formula courtesy of the National
Weather Service:
Wchill (35.74 0.6215 T ) (35.75 0.4275 T ) W .16
The formula only applies if T <= 50F and W>=3mph.
Use Python in Interactive Mode
>>> Temp = 32
>>> Wind = 20
>>> A = 35.74
>>> B = .6215
>>> C = -35.75
>>> D = .4275
>>> e = .16
>>> WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
>>> print WC
19.9855841878
The print statement is used for displaying values in variables.
Quick Note on print
The line
>>> print WC
results in the display of the value currently
housed in the variable WC
More on the print statement later.
Motivating “Script Mode”
What is the new windchill if the wind is
increased from 20mph to 30mph?
Looks like we have to type in the same
sequence of statements. Tedious.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could store the
sequence of statements in a file and then have
Python “run the file” after we changed
Wind = 20 to Wind = 30 ?
Script Mode
Instead of running Python in interactive mode,
we run Python in script mode.
The code to be run (called a script) is entered
into a file (called a module).
We then ask Python to “run the script”.
What is a Module?
A module is a .py file that contains Python code.
In CS 1110, these are created using Komodo Edit.
The Module WindChill.py
WindChill.py
Temp = 32
Wind = 20
A = 35.74
B = .6215
C = -35.74
D = .4275
e = .16
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
Produced using Komodo Edit. This is our first draft.
Running the Module
Here are the steps to follow in the
command shell:
1. Navigate the file system so that you are
“in” the same diretory that houses
WindChill.py
2. Type: python WindChill.py
Details
Suppose I have a directory on my desktop
called TODAY where I keep all my python files
for today’s lecture.
I navigate the file system until I get this
prompt:
C:\Users\cv\Desktop\TODAY>
Asking Python to Run
the Code in WindChill.py
C:\Users\cv\Desktop\TODAY> Python WindChill.py
19.6975841877955
To save space in subsequent slides, we will refer to
C:\Users\cv\Desktop\TODAY> as Blah\Blah>
Multiple Statements on a Line
Can put multiple statements on a line. Separate
the statements with semicolons.
WindChill.py
Temp = 32
Wind = 20
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
For lecture slides we will sometimes do this to save space.
But in general, it makes for ``dense reading’’ and should be avoided.
Module Readability: Comments
Comments begin with a “#”
WindChill.py
Temp = 32
Wind = 20
# Model Parameters
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
# Compute and display the windchill
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
Comments: Guidelines
Comments can also appear on the same line
as a statement:
Wind = 20 # wind speed in miles-per-hour
Everything to the right of the “#” is
part of the comment and not part of the
program.
Comments and Readability
Start each program (script) with a concise
description of what it does.
Define each important variable/constant.
A chunk of code with a specific task should
be generally be prefaced with a concise
comment.
Module Readability: docstrings
A special comment at the top of the module.
WindChill.py
“““Computes windchill as a function of
wind(mph)and temp (Fahrenheit).”””
Temp = 32
Wind = 20
# Model Parameters
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
# Compute and display the windchill
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
Docstrings: Guidelines
Docstrings are multiline comments that are
delimited by triple quotes: “““
They are strategically located at the beginning
of “important” code sections.
Their goal is to succinctly describe what the
code section is about.
One example of an “important” code section is a module.
Trying Different Inputs
WindChill.py
“““Computes windchill as a function of
wind(mph)and temp (Fahrenheit).”””
Temp = 32 Can we be more
Wind = 20 flexible here?
# Model Parameters
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
# Compute and display the windchill
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
Handy Input
If we want to explore windchill as a
function of windspeed and temperature,
then it is awkward to proceed by editing
the module WindChill.py every time
we want to check out a new wind/temp
combination.
The input statement addresses this issue.
The input Statement
The input statement is used to solicit
values via the keyboard:
input( < string that serves as a prompt > )
Later we will learn how to input data from a file.
Temp and Wind via input
WindChill.py
“““Computes windchill as a function of
wind(mph)and temp (Fahrenheit).”””
Temp = input(‘Enter temp (Fahrenheit):’)
Wind = input(‘Enter wind speed (mph):’)
# Model Parameters
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
# Compute and display the windchill
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print WC
A Sample Run
The prompt is displayed…
> Enter temp (Fahrenheit) :
And you respond…
> Enter temp (Fahrenheit) : 15
A Sample Run
The next prompt is displayed…
> Enter wind speed (mph) :
And you respond again…
> Enter wind speed (mph) : 50
A Sample Overall “Dialog”
BlahBlah> python WindChill.py
Enter temp (Fahrenheit) : 15
Enter wind speed (mph) : 50
-9.79781580448
For more on Keyboard Input
Practice with the demo file
ShowInput.py
There is an alternative to input called
raw_input
It is handier in certain situations. Practice with
ShowRawInput.py
More Readable Output
The print statement can be used to format
output in a way that facilitates the
communication of results.
We don’t need to show wind chill to the
12th decimal!
More Readable Output
WindChill.py
“““Computes windchill as a function of
wind(mph)and temp (Fahrenheit).”””
Temp = input(‘Enter temp (Fahrenheit):’)
Wind = input(‘Enter wind speed (mph):’)
# Model Parameters
A=35.74;B=.6215;C=-35.74;D=.4275;e=.16
# Compute and display the windchill
WC = (A+B*Temp)+(C+D*Temp)*Wind**e
print ' Windchill :%4.0f' % WC
The “Dialog” With Formatting
BlahBlah> WindChill
Enter temp (Fahrenheit) : 15 print
Enter wind speed (mph) : 50 without
formatting
-9.79781580448
BlahBlah> WindChill
Enter temp (Fahrenheit) : 15 print
Enter wind speed (mph) : 50 with
formatting
Windchill : -10
The print Statement
The print statement tries to intelligently
format the results that it is asked to
display.
print with formatting puts you in control.
Later we will learn how to direct output to a file
print w/o Formatting
Script: x = 2./5.
print x
x = 1./3.
print x
x = 1234.5678901234
print x
Output: 0.4
0.333333333333
1234.56789012
For float values, print (by itself) displays up to 12 significant digits
print w/o Formatting
Script: x = 1234
y = 12345678
print x,y
Output:
1234 12345678
To display more then one value on a line, separate the references with commas.
A single blank is placed in between the displayed values.
print with the %f Format
x = 1234.123456789
print ‘x = %16.3f’ %x
print ‘x = %16.6f’ %x
print ‘x = %16.9f’ %x
x = 1234.123
x = 1234.123457
x = 1234.123456789
Formatted print statements are developed by “trial and error.”
It not a topic for memorization and it does not show up on exams.
print with the %e Format
x = 1234.123456789
print ‘x = %16.3e’ %x
print ‘x = %16.6e’ %x
print ‘x = %16.9e’ %x
x = 1.234e+03
x = 1.234123e+03
x = 1.234123456e+03
Formatted print statements are developed by “trial and error.”
It not a topic for memorization and it does not show up on exams.
print with the %d Format
x = 1234
print ‘x = %4d’ %x
print ‘x = %7d’ %x
print ‘x = %10d’ %x
x = 1234
x = 1234
x = 1234
Formatted print statements are developed by “trial and error.”
It not a topic for memorization and it does not show up on exams.
print with the %s Format
Script: Band = ‘The Beatles’
print ‘%s in 1964’ % Band
Output: The Beatles in 1964
Strings can be printed too
Formatted Print With More than
1 Source Value
Script:
y1 = 1964
Need parentheses
y2 = 1971 here.
Band = ‘The Beatles’
print ‘%s in %4d and %4d’ % (Band,y1,y2)
Output:
The Beatles in 1964 and 1971
print with Formatting
print < string with formats > %( < list-of-variables > )
A string that Comma-separated,
includes e.g., x,y,z. One
things like variable for each
%10.3f. %3d, format marker
%8.2e, etc in the string. The
Parentheses are
Required if more
than one variable.
Practice with the demo file ShowFormat.py
Why Program Readability and
Style is Important
How we “do business” in commerical, scientific,
and engineering settings increasingly relies on
software.
Lack of attention to style and substandard
documentation promotes error and makes it
hard to build on one another’s software.
Another Detail
All modules that are submitted for grading
should begin with three comments.
WindChill.py
# WindChill.py Name of module
# Xavier Zanzibar (xz3) Your name and netid
# January 1, 1903 Date
etc
A Final Example
Write a script that solicits the area of
a circle and prints out the radius.
Preliminary Solution
Radius.py
A = input(‘Enter the circle area: ‘)
r = sqrt(A/3.14)
print r
The Math: solve A = pi*r*r for r.
We Get an Error
A = input(‘Enter the circle area: ‘)
r = sqrt(A/3.14)
print ‘The radius is %6.3f’ % r
r = sqrt(A/3.14)
NameError: name 'sqrt' is not defined
sqrt is NOT a built-in function
Final Solution
Radius.py
from math import sqrt
A = input(‘Enter the circle area: ‘)
r = sqrt(A/3.14)
print ‘The radius is %6.3f’ % r
We are importing the function sqrt
from the math module.
The Math: solve A = pi*r*r for r.
The Idea Behind import
People write useful code and place it in
modules that can be accessed by others.
The import statement makes this possible.
One thing in the math module is the square
root function sqrt.
If you want to use it in your module just say
from math import sqrt
Better Final Solution
Radius.py
from math import sqrt,pi
A = input(‘Enter the circle area: ‘)
r = sqrt(A/pi)
print ‘The radius is %6.3f’ % r
We are importing the function sqrt and
the constant pi from the math module.
Can import more than one thing from a module. Much more on import later.
Sample Run
C:\Users\cv\Desktop\TODAY> Python Radius.py
Enter the circle area: 10
The radius is 1.785
For more insights, check out the lecture script SurfaceArea.py.
