Year 11 - Computing
Writing to CSV files
Programming: dictionaries and data files
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit introduces pupils to the new data structures of records and dictionaries. They will develop a Caesar cipher encryption program using a dictionary as a cipher wheel. Pupils will explore how data can be read from and written to files and how this data can be used within a program.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to write data to a new file and append data to an existing text file.
Key Notes
- Writing to a CSV happens line-by-line in the same way as other text files.
- When writing to a CSV file you need to convert the data to a single string with commas used as separators.
- The join() method takes a list and returns a string.
Vocabulary To Learn
- list: a dynamic data structure that can contain items of different data types
- string: a sequence of characters, e.g. letters, numbers, spaces, and other symbols
- join(): the join method takes a list and joins each value in that list into one string
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- You can write integers directly to a CSV file using file.write(number).
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Describe the system or process from this lesson in clear steps.
Writing to a CSV happens line-by-line in the same way as other text files. When writing to a CSV file you need to convert the data to a single string with commas used as separators.
2. Define this computing term and give one practical example. 'list'
a dynamic data structure that can contain items of different data types. Add one real device or system example to prove understanding.
3. Correct this common computing misconception.
Mistake: You can write integers directly to a CSV file using file.write(number). Correction: All data must be converted to strings before writing.
More Lessons In This Unit
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