Python Forum

Full Version: How To Find an Opening and Closing String, Copying Open/Close/Contents to New File
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
Hi All,

I want to use Python to parse some old BASIC code. Basically, I'm looking to locate each subroutine within the source file and then copy each subroutine out into a new file named after the subroutine.

I imagine it would go something like this:
1. Find a string containing sub nameofsub
2. Find the matching end sub for this subroutine
3. Create a new file with the name of the subroutine.
4. Copy the contents of the opening and closing strings and all contained text into this new file.
5. Repeat from the beginning.
Still working through this, I've posted my code to github: https://github.com/davidshq/pyBASICTools

Right now it:
1. Loads the file into a list.
2. Iterates through each item in the list.
3. If it finds the string "DECLARE SUB" outputs a message to the display.
4. Continues parsing until the entire list (and thus contents of the file) have been searched.

About as far as I'm getting with it tonight...will update as I make more progress. Any suggestions are welcome :)

# Python BASIC Tools

# Empty List to Contain Lines of BASIC Code
baslist = []

# Open Source File and Print Contents
with open('/workspaces/python/pyBASICTools/CWSTRAT.BAS', 'rt') as basfile:
    # Copy each line into baslist.
    for line in basfile:
        baslist.append(line)

# Search for instances of SUB
index = 0 # current index in list
prev = 0 # previous index in list


while index < len(baslist):
    lineindex = 0 # current index in string
    lineprev = 0 # previous index in string
    str = baslist[index] # first string to search from baslines
    substr = "SUB animate" # substring we are looking for
    while lineindex < len(str): # While there are still more items in the list
        found = str.find(substr, lineindex)
        if found == -1:
            lineindex = lineindex + 1
            break
        print(" " * (found - lineprev) + "e", end='') # Print location of substring
        lineprev = found + len(substr) 
        lineindex += len(substr)
    prev = index
    index = index + 1