python - create a dynamic list of parameter for a method

Question

I want to create a XLSX file in python. For this, I use xlsxwriter.

In my XLSX I want to highlight some part of text with the write_rich_string method.

But, my string is not a fixed value. The part I want to highlight can be randomly placed into it. Or I can have multiples part of the text to highlight.

So, can I create a "list of parameters" for the call of write_rich_string? And what is the method to made this?

Example:

mystring = "I want this in [tag_1]yellow[/tag_1] and this in [tag_2]green[/tag_2]."

worksheet.write_rich_string('A1',
                        'I want this in',
                        yellow, 'yellow',
                        ' and this is ',
                        green, 'green')

worksheet.write_rich_string('A1', my_list_of_parm)

Answer 1

If I understand what you're asking… you've got a list like this:

my_list_of_parm = ['I want this in',
                   yellow, 'yellow',
                   ' and this is ',
                   green, 'green']

And you want to pass that to write_rich_string as a bunch of separate arguments (along with one normal argument).

The way to do that is explained in the tutorial under Unpacking Argument Lists: Just put * before my_list_of_parm, and it will be unpacked into separate arguments:

worksheet.write_rich_string('A1', *my_list_of_parm)

---

In general, if you want to convert a list (or other iterable) into separate values or vice-versa, * is the answer:

>>> def func(a, b, *args):
...     print(args)
>>> func(1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
[3, 4, 5]
>>> a, b, *rest = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
>>> rest
[3, 4, 5]
>>> func(1, *rest)
[4, 5]

But for the exact rules on what you can and can't do, you'll need to read the docs.