Path: csiph.com!x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net!usenet.pasdenom.info!news.chainon-marquant.org!news-transit.tcx.org.uk!rt.uk.eu.org!nntp-feed.chiark.greenend.org.uk!ewrotcd!news.nosignal.org!newsgate.cistron.nl!newsgate.news.xs4all.nl!post.news.xs4all.nl!not-for-mail Return-Path: X-Original-To: python-list@python.org Delivered-To: python-list@mail.python.org X-Spam-Status: OK 0.000 X-Spam-Evidence: '*H*': 1.00; '*S*': 0.00; 'else:': 0.03; 'sorts': 0.04; 'subject:test': 0.05; ':-)': 0.06; '>>>>': 0.09; 'from:addr:python': 0.09; 'method:': 0.09; 'none.': 0.09; 'am,': 0.12; 'argument': 0.15; "'not": 0.16; '11:36': 0.16; '[2,': 0.16; 'from:addr:mrabarnett.plus.com': 0.16; 'from:name:mrab': 0.16; 'message-id:@mrabarnett.plus.com': 0.16; 'received:84.92': 0.16; 'received:84.92.122': 0.16; 'received:84.92.122.60': 0.16; 'reply- to:addr:python-list': 0.16; 'suggestions?': 0.16; 'wrote:': 0.18; '>>>': 0.18; 'subject:list': 0.21; 'dec': 0.22; "doesn't": 0.22; 'header:In-Reply-To:1': 0.22; 'function': 0.27; 'lists': 0.28; 'order.': 0.29; 'print': 0.29; 'equality': 0.30; 'thanks': 0.31; 'list': 0.32; "isn't": 0.33; 'sort': 0.33; 'header:User-Agent:1': 0.33; 'to:addr:python-list': 0.34; 'received:84': 0.34; '???': 0.34; 'reply-to:addr:python.org': 0.34; 'list.': 0.35; 'test': 0.35; 'equal': 0.36; '...': 0.36; 'example,': 0.37; 'two': 0.37; 'but': 0.37; 'reference': 0.37; "there's": 0.37; 'another': 0.37; 'think': 0.37; "it's": 0.40; 'help!': 0.40; 'to:addr:python.org': 0.40; 'order': 0.62; 'care': 0.71; 'header:Reply-To:1': 0.71; 'reply-to:no real name:2**0': 0.72; 'order,': 0.73 X-CM-Score: 0.00 X-CNFS-Analysis: v=2.0 cv=JaQ+XD2V c=1 sm=1 a=0nF1XD0wxitMEM03M9B4ZQ==:17 a=9jsOeB20M3cA:10 a=OUOv7kDek9cA:10 a=8nJEP1OIZ-IA:10 a=pGLkceISAAAA:8 a=L05T4De2e2fWUGo66ToA:9 a=wPNLvfGTeEIA:10 a=MSl-tDqOz04A:10 a=0nF1XD0wxitMEM03M9B4ZQ==:117 X-AUTH: mrabarnett:2500 Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:06:01 +0000 From: MRAB User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:8.0) Gecko/20111105 Thunderbird/8.0 MIME-Version: 1.0 To: python-list@python.org Subject: Re: test for list equality References: <45d59336-7e75-4865-8573-56742b37097c@s26g2000yqd.googlegroups.com> <61edc02c-4f86-45ef-82a1-61c7013003b4@t38g2000yqe.googlegroups.com> In-Reply-To: <61edc02c-4f86-45ef-82a1-61c7013003b4@t38g2000yqe.googlegroups.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-BeenThere: python-list@python.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.12 Precedence: list Reply-To: python-list@python.org List-Id: General discussion list for the Python programming language List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Newsgroups: comp.lang.python Message-ID: Lines: 52 NNTP-Posting-Host: 2001:888:2000:d::a6 X-Trace: 1323972336 news.xs4all.nl 6873 [2001:888:2000:d::a6]:35827 X-Complaints-To: abuse@xs4all.nl Xref: x330-a1.tempe.blueboxinc.net comp.lang.python:17292 On 15/12/2011 17:49, noydb wrote: > On Dec 15, 11:36 am, noydb wrote: >> I want to test for equality between two lists. For example, if I have >> two lists that are equal in content but not in order, I want a return >> of 'equal' -- dont care if they are not in the same order. In order >> to get that equality, would I have to sort both lists regardless? if >> yes, how (having issues with list.sort)? >> >> Another way i tried, that I think is kind-of roundabout is like >> x = [2, 5, 1, 88, 9] >> y = [5, 2, 9, 1, 88] >> inBoth = list(set(x)& set(y)) >> >> and then test that list.count is equal between inBoth and x and/or y. >> >> Any better suggestions? >> >> Thanks for any help! > > My sort issue... as in this doesn't work >>>> if x.sort == y.sort: > ... print 'equal' > ... else: > ... print 'not equal' > ... > not equal > > > ??? .sort is a method which sorts the list in-place and returns None. You must provide the () if you want to call it, otherwise you just get a reference to the method: >>> x [2, 5, 1, 88, 9] >>> x.sort >>> x.sort() >>> x [1, 2, 5, 9, 88] There's also a function "sorted" which returns its argument as a sorted list. The argument itself isn't altered: >>> y = [5, 2, 9, 1, 88] >>> sorted(y) [1, 2, 5, 9, 88] >>> y [5, 2, 9, 1, 88] It's all in the documentation! :-)