How To Convert A .txt To .xml In Python

So the current problem I'm facing would be in converting a text file into a xml file. The text file would be in this format. Serial Number: Operator ID: test Time: 00:03:47

Solution 1:

Here is a better method of splitting the lines.

Notice that the text variable would technically be your .txt file, and that I purposely modified it so that we have a greater context of the output.

from collections import OrderedDict
from pprint import pprint

# Text would be our loaded .txt file.
text = """Serial Number:  test    Operator ID:  test1  Time:  00:03:47 Test Step 1      TP1:  17.25    TP2:  2.46
Serial Number:      Operator ID:  test2  Time:  00:03:48 Test Step 2      TP1:  17.24    TP2:  2.47"""# Headers of the intended break-points in the text files.
headers = ["Serial Number:", "Operator ID:", "Time:", "TP1:", "TP2:"]

information = []

# Split our text by lines.for line in text.split("\n"):

    # Split our text up so we only have the information per header.
    default_header = headers[0]
    for header in headers[1:]:
        line = line.replace(header, default_header)
    info = [i.strip() for i in line.split(default_header)][1:]

    # Compile our header+information together into OrderedDict's.
    compiled_information = OrderedDict()
    for header, info inzip(headers, info):
        compiled_information[header] = info

    # Append to our overall information list.
    information.append(compiled_information)

# Pretty print the information (not needed, only for better display of data.)
pprint(information)

Outputs:

[OrderedDict([('Serial Number:', 'test'),
              ('Operator ID:', 'test1'),
              ('Time:', '00:03:47 Test Step 1'),
              ('TP1:', '17.25'),
              ('TP2:', '2.46')]),
 OrderedDict([('Serial Number:', ''),
              ('Operator ID:', 'test2'),
              ('Time:', '00:03:48 Test Step 2'),
              ('TP1:', '17.24'),
              ('TP2:', '2.47')])]

This method should generalize better than what you are currently writing, and the idea of the code is something I've had saved from another project. I recommend you going through the code and understanding its logic.

From here you should be able to loop through the information list and create your custom .xml file. I would recommend you checking out dicttoxml as well, as it might make your life much easier on the final step.

In regards to your code, remember: breaking down fundamental tasks is easier than trying to incorporate them all into one. By trying to create the xml file while you split your txt file you've created a monster that is hard to tackle when it revolts back with bugs. Instead, take it one step at a time -- create "checkpoints" that you are 100% certain work, and then move on to the next task.