Python - writing and reading from a temporary file

Question

I am trying to create a temporary file that I write in some lines from another file and then make some objects from the data. I am not sure how to find and open the temp file so I can read it. My code:

with tempfile.TemporaryFile() as tmp:
    lines = open(file1).readlines()
    tmp.writelines(lines[2:-1])

dependencyList = []

for line in tmp:
    groupId = textwrap.dedent(line.split(':')[0])
    artifactId = line.split(':')[1]
    version = line.split(':')[3]
    scope = str.strip(line.split(':')[4])
    dependencyObject = depenObj(groupId, artifactId, version, scope)
    dependencyList.append(dependencyObject)
tmp.close()

Essentially I just want to make a middleman temporary document to protect against accidentally overwriting a file.

Answer 1

As per the docs, the file is deleted when the TemporaryFile is closed and that happens when you exit the with clause. So... don't exit the with clause. Rewind the file and do your work in the with.

with tempfile.TemporaryFile() as tmp:
    lines = open(file1).readlines()
    tmp.writelines(lines[2:-1])
    tmp.seek(0)

    for line in tmp:
        groupId = textwrap.dedent(line.split(':')[0])
        artifactId = line.split(':')[1]
        version = line.split(':')[3]
        scope = str.strip(line.split(':')[4])
        dependencyObject = depenObj(groupId, artifactId, version, scope)
        dependencyList.append(dependencyObject)