How can I open multiple files using “with open” in Python?

Question

I want to change a couple of files at one time, iff I can write to all of them. I'm wondering if I somehow can combine the multiple open calls with the with a statement:

try: with open('a', 'w') as a and open('b', 'w') as b: do_something() except IOError as e: print 'Operation failed: %s' % e.strerror

If that's not possible, what would an elegant solution to this problem look like?

Answer 1

Actually, you are following the correct way to open multiple files in Python in the only thing you need to do is, replace ‘and’ with ‘,’ and you are done with your answer:-.

try: 

with open('a', 'w') as a, open('b', 'w') as b:

 do_something() 

except IOError as e:

  print('Operation failed: %s' % e.strerror)

To know more about this you can have a look at the following video:-

Answer 2

In previous versions of Python, you can use contextlib.nested() to nest context managers. 

In your case, just replace 'and' with ',' and you're done:

with open('a', 'w') as a, open('b', 'w') as b:

    do_something()

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