Basic Python Script If Statement

Question

I am messing around with this basic Magic 8 Ball program and im trying to make it only allow yes or no questions I am thinking that it will only except questions that have the first word "will" or "do" how can I make a that only allows those to words?

Here is the Script:

import random
import time
print "Welcome to Magic Eight Ball !"
while True:
    def Magic8(a):
        foo = ['Yes', 'No', 'Maybe', 'Doubtful', 'Try Again']
        from random import choice
        print choice(foo)


    a = raw_input("Question: ")
    if a == "exit":
        exit()
    #If Stament here
    print "Determining Your Future..."
    time.sleep(2)
    Magic8(a)

Lev Levitsky · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-19 21:27:04Z

4

if a.split(None, 1)[0].lower() in {'will', 'do'}:
    print "Determining Your Future..."
    time.sleep(2)
    magic8(a) # function names are usually not capitalized

str.split() splits the sentence on whitespace, str.lower should handle the uppercase.

edited Apr 19, 2013 at 21:27

answered Apr 19, 2013 at 21:21

Lev Levitsky

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msvalkon · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-19 21:28:42Z

2

You can use str.startswith and pass a tuple of accepted words.

if a.lower().startswith(("will ", "do ")):
   # Do your magic.

edited Apr 19, 2013 at 21:28

answered Apr 19, 2013 at 21:22

msvalkon

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1 Comment

Lev Levitsky Over a year ago

Nice, and simpler than my answer, but you probably have to add a space there: 'will ', 'do ', otherwise there can be false positives: 'William is a unicorn'. Also you need to account for the capitalization.

Ivan Vulović · Accepted Answer · 2013-04-19 21:51:33Z

1

maybe if you have little words you can use elif or or

if a=="exit":
    exit()
elif a=="optionOne":
     doSomething
else:
    print "word not alowed"

Or you can do like this

if a=="exit" or a=="notAllowedWord":
    exit()

answered Apr 19, 2013 at 21:51

Ivan Vulović

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