How do you remove the "EOL while scanning string literal" error when using two separate strings?

Question

I am trying to import files from the same folder, but put the r'location' on separate lines.

import pandas as pd
extra=r'C:\Users\Desktop\Pandas\'
visits=pd.read_csv(extra+r'visits.csv')

I get the EOL while scanning string literal error.

Massifox · Answer 1 · 2019-09-17T19:52:52.563

0

This run:

import pandas as pd
extra=r'C:\Users\Desktop\Pandas\\'
visits=pd.read_csv(extra+r'visits.csv')

the backslash \ as the escape character before '. In general, in python it is strongly recommended to use / instead of escape character \

edited Sep 17 '19 at 19:52

answered Sep 17 '19 at 19:51

Massifox

That worked! Thanks. I guess adding another backslash to Pandas\\ stops the string. – Nick Sep 17 '19 at 19:58
@connectyourcharger I added an explanation, please remove the down vote. Thanks – Massifox Sep 17 '19 at 20:00
@NickBosio Good! I'm glad I helped you. Please mark my answer as best, Thanks! :) – Massifox Sep 17 '19 at 20:02

miike3459 · Answer 2 · 2019-09-17T19:59:29.497

0

Despite using raw string syntax, the syntax \' still escapes the last quote and tricks Python into thinking your string never ends.

You can just concatenate that last slash:

import pandas as pd
extra=r'C:\Users\Desktop\Pandas' + "\\"
visits=pd.read_csv(extra+r'visits.csv')

edited Sep 17 '19 at 19:59

answered Sep 17 '19 at 19:51

miike3459

In my test results in a similar error message. – SpghttCd Sep 17 '19 at 19:58
@SpghttCd Haha, forgot to take the last slash out of the string. – miike3459 Sep 17 '19 at 19:59

SpghttCd · Answer 3 · 2019-09-17T20:03:14.343

0

\ is an escape character which makes it possible to use ' within a string instead of marking its end.

I'd generally recommend / as path separator in python - it prevents you from exactly this type of annoying side effects.

extra = 'C:/Users/Desktop/Pandas/'
visits = pd.read_csv(extra + 'visits.csv')

edited Sep 17 '19 at 20:03

answered Sep 17 '19 at 19:53

SpghttCd

1

better still: don't end a path in a (back) slash and use `os.path.join()`. Even better still: use `pathlib`: `from pathlib import Path` and `extra = Path(r"C:\Users\Desktop\Pandas")` and `extra / 'visits.csv'`. – Martijn Pieters Sep 17 '19 at 21:46

3 Answers3