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From: JBB <jeanbigboute@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Passing a list into  a list .append() method
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2014 07:08:57 +0000 (UTC)
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Frank Millman <frank <at> chagford.com> writes:

> 
> 
> "JBB" <jeanbigboute <at> gmail.com> wrote in message 
> news:loom.20140909T073428-713 <at> post.gmane.org...
> >I have a list with a fixed number of elements which I need to grow; ie. add
> > rows of a fixed number of elements, some of which will be blank.
...
> I am sure that someone will give you a comprehensive answer, but here is a 
> quick clue which may be all you need.
>...

[ Deletia per gmane's requirements ]

> Wrapping a list with 'list()' has the effect of making a copy of it.
> 
> This is from the docs (3.4.1) -
> 
> """
> Lists may be constructed in several ways:
> 
> - Using a pair of square brackets to denote the empty list: []
> - Using square brackets, separating items with commas: [a], [a, b, c]
> - Using a list comprehension: [x for x in iterable]
> - Using the type constructor: list() or list(iterable)
> 
> The constructor builds a list whose items are the same and in the same order 
> as iterable's items.
> iterable may be either a sequence, a container that supports iteration, or 
> an iterator object.
> If iterable is already a list, a copy is made and returned, similar to 
> iterable[:]. [*]
> For example, list('abc') returns ['a', 'b', 'c'] and list( (1, 2, 3) ) 
> returns [1, 2, 3].
> If no argument is given, the constructor creates a new empty list, [].
> """
> 
> I marked the relevant line with [*]
> 
> HTH
> 
> Frank Millman


Ok, this does clear up why the list() construction worked in this context -
I wasn't aware that it would create a copy.  

I'm still a little confused by why passing the list as an argument causes
the list to change.  But, I was not aware of the id() method to see what's
equivalent to what.  I'll experiment with this and you've given me some good
ideas on other docs I need to read.

Thank you for the quick reply.


JBB