How to loop insert into nested dictionary with complex structure

Question

I have a dict object with this type of structure

{"a": '{"b": "c"}'}

I'd like to use a loop to insert different values into the "c" area for use elsewhere in a project. The problem is that the single quotes around the b and c make this more difficult.

I tried:

{"a": '{"b": "{}"}.format("d")'}

But this returns the dict without evaluating the format function.

I also tried:

{"a": '{"b": "{}"}'.format("d")}

But this returns an error. I've gone through 2 hours of combinations and SO questions like ( this , this , and this ) but have realized that I need the help of someone who knows what they're doing.

A viable solution would look like:

x = {"a": '{"b": "c"}'}
val = "d"

magic(x, val)

>>> {"a": '{"b": "d"}'}

Note: To the comments asking "why this format"? I am not creating these objects and so they are not my choice. I have an api that I have connected to. I am pulling the current data, changing it, and uploading it back. There is no opportunity to "not use a string literal". That is what the api post is expecting. I am not in a position now to ask the maintainers to change their storage system

Answer 1

This should work for you

import json
obj = {"a": '{"b": "c"}'}
inner_a = json.loads(obj['a'])
inner_a['b'] = 'd'
obj['a'] = json.dumps(inner_a)

Answer 2

Try this:

import ast
x = {"a": '{"b": "c"}'}
a = ast.literal_eval(x['a'])
a['b'] = 'd'
x['a'] = str(a)

And now:

print(x)

Is:

{"a": '{"b": "d"}'}

Answer 3

You are trying to build a string literal, when it would be easier to just build a dict directly; there is no need for the values in a dict literal them selves to be literals. The problem is that the value of d['a'] is a string rather than a dict. Is this really necessary? For a simple dictionary you could simply use:

>>> def magic(d, val):
...     d['a']['b'] = val
...
>>> my_dict = {"a": {"b": "c"}}  # my_dict['a'] is also a dict
>>> magic(my_dict, 'd')
>>> my_dict
{'a': {'b': 'd'}}
>>> magic(my_dict, {'x': 1, 'y' :2, 'z': 3})
>>> my_dict
{'a': {'b': {'x': 1, 'y': 2, 'z': 3}}}

When the value is a string, however, much depends on its format. If the keys are all strings and the values are strings or numbers then you could use the json module to convert it into a dict, operate on it and place it back:

>>> import json
>>> def smagic(d, val):
...     inner = json.loads(d['a'])
...     inner['b'] = val
...     d['a'] = json.dumps(inner)
...
>>> my_dict = {"a": '{"b": "c"}'}  # my_dict['a'] is a string
>>> smagic(my_dict, "Is this it?")
>>> my_dict
{'a': '{"b": "Is this it?"}'}

You could extend this solution by using repr and eval , but I would advise against that level of complexity unless there is no way to avoid it.

Answer 4

#use this code according for reference
print("enter name\n") 
n1=input("enter 1st name ")
ln=input("enter last name ")
add=input("enter address ")
dic={'name':{"1st name":n1,"lname":ln},'address':add}
print(dic.values())
print(dic)