Greetings: What is the purpose of the dictionary method setdefault(k[, x])?
For example assume the following dictionary: >>> colors = {'green':(0,255,0), 'red':(255,0,0), 'blue':(0,0,255), >>> 'white':(255,255,255), 'black':(0,0,0)} >>> Now, execute the statement: >>> colors.setdefault('black') (0, 0, 0) >>> I would expect that future references to colors, with no argument or a null argument, would return the value of colors['black'], e.g.: >>> colors[] (0, 0, 0) >>> colors (0, 0, 0) >>> or some similar syntax. This is not the case, however. The actual behavior is: >>> colors {'blue': (0, 0, 255), 'black': (0, 0, 0), 'white': (255, 255, 255), 'green': (0, 255, 0), 'red': (255, 0, 0)} >>> colors[] File "<input>", line 1 colors[] ^ SyntaxError: invalid syntax >>> So, what then is the proper use of setdefault()? And, if d.setdefault does not actually assign a default value for d, is there a way to do this? As always, thanks in advance for your responses. Barry [EMAIL PROTECTED] 541-302-1107 ________________________ We who cut mere stones must always be envisioning cathedrals. -Quarry worker's creed _______________________________________________ Tutor maillist - Tutor@python.org http://mail.python.org/mailman/listinfo/tutor