How to convert a set to a list in python?

Question

I am trying to convert a set to a list in Python 2.6. I'm using this syntax:

first_list = [1,2,3,4]
my_set=set(first_list)
my_list = list(my_set)

However, I get the following stack trace:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<console>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: 'set' object is not callable

How can I fix this?

Answer 1

[EDITED] It's seems you earlier have redefined "list", using it as a variable name, like this:

list = set([1,2,3,4]) # oops
#...
first_list = [1,2,3,4]
my_set=set(first_list)
my_list = list(my_set)

And you'l get

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<console>", line 1, in <module>
TypeError: 'set' object is not callable

Answer 2

I'm not sure that you're creating a set with this ([1, 2]) syntax, rather a list. To create a set, you should use set([1, 2]).

These brackets are just envelopping your expression, as if you would have written:

if (condition1
    and condition2 == 3):
    print something

There're not really ignored, but do nothing to your expression.

Note: (something, something_else) will create a tuple (but still no list).

Answer 3

Review your first line. Your stack trace is clearly not from the code you've pasted here, so I don't know precisely what you've done.

>>> my_set=([1,2,3,4])
>>> my_set
[1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> type(my_set)
<type 'list'>
>>> list(my_set)
[1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> type(_)
<type 'list'>

What you wanted was set([1, 2, 3, 4]).

>>> my_set = set([1, 2, 3, 4])
>>> my_set
set([1, 2, 3, 4])
>>> type(my_set)
<type 'set'>
>>> list(my_set)
[1, 2, 3, 4]
>>> type(_)
<type 'list'>

The "not callable" exception means you were doing something like set()() - attempting to call a set instance.

Answer 4

Whenever you are stuck in such type of problems, try to find the datatype of the element you want to convert first by using :

type(my_set)

Then, Use:

  list(my_set) 

to convert it to a list. You can use the newly built list like any normal list in python now.

Answer 5

Hmmm I bet that in some previous lines you have something like:

list = set(something)

Am I wrong ?

Answer 6

Instead of:

first_list = [1,2,3,4]
my_set=set(first_list)
my_list = list(my_set)

Why not shortcut the process:

my_list = list(set([1,2,3,4])

This will remove the dupes from you list and return a list back to you.