Python Forum

Although I have been programming since 1956, I can't get beyond simple things in Python, in particular, getting data into and out of files.
I opened a file ('a'), and wrote 2 lines in it, acknowledged by the character count.
Closed it, opened it to read, but reading produces blank output:

tf = open('testfile.txt', 'a')
tf.write('line1')
tf.write('line2')
tf.close
tg = open('testfile.txt', 'r')
print(tg.read())
tg.close 

The print command gives me a blank line. What am I doing wrong?

I think you're forgetting to call the close function. Replace close with close().

Also using with open which is the preferable way now,then no need to use close().
It's not so new as with open was added to Python 2.5 14-years ago
Here in all in one go.

with open('testfile.txt', 'a') as tf, open('testfile.txt') as tg:
    tf.write('line1\n')
    tf.write('line2\n')
    print(tg.read())

Or:

with open('testfile.txt', 'a') as tf:
    tf.write('line1\n')
    tf.write('line2\n')

with open('testfile.txt') as tg:
    print(tg.read())

Thanks for the replies. problem solved. It was obvious, but I couldn't see it.