Question

Write a program that prints out a student grade report. There is a file, classes, txt, that contains the names of all classes taught at a college, such as classes.txt \(\csc 1\) \(\csc 2\) \(\csc 46\) \(\csc 151\) ?TH121 For each class, there is a file with student ID numbers and grades: cscritxt \(11234 \mathrm{~A}-\) \(12547 \mathrm{~B}\) \(16753 \mathrm{~B}\) \(21886 \mathrm{C}\) Write a program that asks for a student ID and prints out a grade report for that student, by searching all class files. Here is a sample report Student ID 16753 \(\csc 2 \mathrm{~B}+\) ???121 C+ CHEA A PHYSO A-

Short answer

Read class names, search each file for student ID, and print grades.

Step-by-step solution

Import Required Libraries

Start by importing necessary libraries. You may need `os` to handle file operations and navigate the directories.

Read Classes from File

Open `classes.txt` and read all class names into a list. This helps in iterating over each class' corresponding file to find the student's grades.

Define a Function to Search Files

Write a function that accepts a student ID and a class name. It opens the corresponding class file, reads through the file line by line, and searches for the given student ID.

Open Each Class File

For each class in the list from Step 2, open its corresponding file (e.g., `csc1.txt`) and call the search function defined in Step 3 to look for the student's ID.

Collect and Store Grades

If the student's ID is found in a file, record the class name and grade. Store these in a dictionary or a list with tuples for easy retrieval later.

Print Grade Report

Once all files are checked, format and print the grade report for the student. Include the student ID and a list of all the classes and grades found.

Handle Errors and Edge Cases

Consider adding error handling if files are missing or a student ID isn't found in any files. Provide appropriate messages for these cases.

Key concepts

File Handling in Python

File handling in Python is an essential skill for any aspiring programmer. It allows you to read from and write to files stored on your computer, making it possible to manage data persistently. The task involves working with files like `classes.txt` and several student grade files, such as `csc1.txt`.
To handle files in Python, you'll typically use built-in functions such as `open()`, `read()`, and `close()`. The `open()` function is used to access the file you need, and it can be opened in different modes, such as read mode ('r') or write mode ('w').
When reading a file, it's crucial to loop through each line to process its contents accordingly. Remember to close the file after operations to prevent data loss or corruption. The `with open(...)` statement is a practical approach in Python, as it automatically closes the file once the block of code is executed.
Using the right file handling techniques ensures your program can effectively interact with the necessary data, like student grades.

Student Grade Management

Managing student grades programmatically can enhance organization and efficiency in educational settings. In this scenario, the task involves creating a student grade report using data from multiple files. Each class file contains student IDs and their associated grades.
To manage this data, you should maintain a structure, such as a list of tuples or a dictionary, where each entry links class names to their respective grades. This format allows for easy retrieval and reporting of students' performance.
Grade management also involves generating insightful and user-friendly reports. Ensure your program can seamlessly collect, store, and present the required information, enhancing its practical utility in an educational environment.
Efficiency in data management often leads to better decision-making and improved educational outcomes.

Python Functions

Functions in Python are reusable blocks of code designed to perform specific tasks. They help break down complex problems into manageable pieces. In the context of this exercise, defining a function can streamline the process of searching for a student's ID across different files.
For instance, a function 'search_student_grades' could accept parameters like `student_id` and `class_name`, open the corresponding class file, and search for the student's grade.
Using functions promotes code reusability and organization. You can invoke the same function with different arguments, avoiding redundancy. Functions also make your code more readable and easier to debug, as each function is built around a single responsibility.
Ultimately, functions enhance the modularity and maintainability of your code, which is especially valuable in larger projects.

Error Handling in Python

Error handling in Python is crucial for building robust applications. It ensures that your program can cope with unexpected failures or incorrect inputs gracefully, providing users with meaningful feedback rather than abrupt crashes.
In this exercise, error handling can manage potential issues like missing files or student IDs not found. The `try` and `except` blocks in Python are used to catch and handle exceptions that may occur during execution.
Implementing error messages for missing class files or unmatched student IDs makes your program user-friendly. For instance, if `csc1.txt` is not found, you could inform the user accordingly. This is more efficient than allowing the program to terminate unexpectedly.
Besides improving user experience, effective error handling also aids in debugging by clearly identifying what went wrong during execution. This leads to more resilient and reliable code.