[python] how to create a list of lists

My Python code generates a list everytime it loops:

list = np.genfromtxt('temp.txt', usecols=3, dtype=[('floatname','float')], skip_header=1)

But I want to save each one - I need a list of lists right?

So I tried:

list[i] = np.genfromtxt('temp.txt', usecols=3, dtype=[('floatname','float')], skip_header=1)

But Python now tells me that "list" is not defined. I'm not sure how I go about defining it. Also, is a list of lists the same as an array??

Thank you!

This question is related to python list

The answer is


Just came across the same issue today...

In order to create a list of lists you will have firstly to store your data, array, or other type of variable into a list. Then, create a new empty list and append to it the lists that you just created. At the end you should end up with a list of lists:

list_1=data_1.tolist()
list_2=data_2.tolist()
listoflists = []
listoflists.append(list_1)
listoflists.append(list_2)

First of all do not use list as a variable name- that is a builtin function.

I'm not super clear of what you're asking (a little more context would help), but maybe this is helpful-

my_list = []
my_list.append(np.genfromtxt('temp.txt', usecols=3, dtype=[('floatname','float')], skip_header=1))
my_list.append(np.genfromtxt('temp2.txt', usecols=3, dtype=[('floatname','float')], skip_header=1))

That will create a list (a type of mutable array in python) called my_list with the output of the np.getfromtext() method in the first 2 indexes.

The first can be referenced with my_list[0] and the second with my_list[1]


Create your list before your loop, else it will be created at each loop.

>>> list1 = []
>>> for i in range(10) :
...   list1.append( range(i,10) )
...
>>> list1
[[0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [5, 6, 7, 8, 9], [6, 7, 8, 9], [7, 8, 9], [8, 9], [9]]

You want to create an empty list, then append the created list to it. This will give you the list of lists. Example:

>>> l = []
>>> l.append([1,2,3])
>>> l.append([4,5,6])
>>> l
[[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]]