Program

#==============================================================================#
# Program: Make and display lists, read/write files
# Programmer:
# Date:         11/06/2013
# Abstract:     Displays the list of names in a file, sorts them, reprints them,
#               adds these to a new file. Allows a user to search the list for
#               a specific name.
#==============================================================================#

#defines what order to perform the functions, and sorts the list once created.
def main():
    nameList = makeList()
    printList(nameList)
    nameList.sort()
    printList(nameList)
    newOutput(nameList)
    searchNames(nameList)

#creates the list from a text file
def makeList():
    data = open('names.txt', 'r')
    l = data.readlines()
    data.close()
    return l

#prints the list to the screen
def printList(nameList):
    for n in nameList:
        print(n)

#creates a new output file, based on the first but in sorted order.
def newOutput(nameList):
    newList = open('newOutput.txt', 'w')
    newList.writelines(nameList)
    newList.close()


#search the list for a specific name. Includes a loop to allow a user to search multiple names.
def searchNames(nameList):
    another = 'y'
    while another.lower() == 'y':
        search = input("What name are you looking for? (Use 'Lastname, Firstname', including comma: ")

        if search in nameList:
            print("The name was found at index", nameList.index(search), "in the list.")
            another = input("Check another name? Y for yes, anything else for no: ")
        else:
            print("The name was not found in the list.")
            another = input("Check another name? Y for yes, anything else for no: ")

#Call main function
main()