makefile.py

#!/usr/bin/python
'makeTextFile.py -- create text file'
import os,sys
ls = os.linesep
while True:
        if os.path.exists('a'):
                print "ERROR: '%s' already exists" % 'a'
#               break
                sys.exit()
        else:
                break


all = []
print "\nEnter lines ('.' by itself to quit). \n"


while True:
        entry = raw_input('> ')
        if entry == '.':
                break
        else:
                all.append(entry)
fobj = open('a', 'w')
fobj.writelines(['%s%s' % (x, ls) for x in all])
fobj.close()
print 'DONE!'


#!/usr/bin/python
'readTextFile.py'
fname = raw_input('Enter filename: ')
print


try:
        fobj = open(fname, 'r')
except IOError, e:
        print "*** file open error:", e
else:
        for eacheline in fobj:
                print eachline,
                fobj.close()