Objectives Practice Using Loops Practice Opening Files With
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Write a Python script (with comments) that calculates the average score for an unknown number of students stored in a file. The script should prompt the user for a filename containing students' scores, handle file opening errors gracefully, read and process each student's name and their four scores, and display the information along with the calculated average. Additionally, it should write each student's name and their average score to a file named "averages.csv". The script must ensure proper file closing after operations.
Paper For Above instruction
In the realm of programming, handling file I/O operations efficiently and accurately is essential, especially when processing data sets such as students' scores. The task at hand involves creating a Python script that reads student scores from a file, computes individual averages, and records this data both on the screen and in a new CSV file. To achieve this, a well-structured approach must be employed, emphasizing error handling, loop constructs, file management, and data processing.
The initial step involves prompting the user for the filename containing students’ scores. This input is critical as it determines which data file will be read. The script must attempt to open this file in read mode, and in case of failure—such as the file not existing—it should handle the exception gracefully, informing the user of the error. Proper exception handling ensures that the program does not crash unexpectedly and provides meaningful feedback.
Once thefile is successfully opened, the program proceeds to read its contents line by line. The expected data format is that each line begins with a student's name, followed by four scores. For each student, the script extracts this data, converting the score strings to floating-point numbers for accurate calculations. It then sums these scores to compute an average, which is displayed on the screen alongside the student's name and individual scores. This step involves a loop that processes each student's data until the end of the file.
Simultaneously, the script writes each student's name and their computed average to an output file named "averages.csv". This file is opened in write mode before processing begins and must be closed after all data has been recorded. Proper file management ensures data integrity and prevents resource leaks. Throughout the process, the script should include comments explaining each significant step, fostering clarity and maintainability.
After processing all student data, the script closes both input and output files. The final output on the screen provides a formatted view of each student's scores and their average, whereas the "averages.csv" file consolidates the essential data for further use or analysis. This complete workflow exemplifies robust file handling, data processing, and reporting in Python, adhering to good programming practices that can be extended or adapted for similar data-driven tasks.
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