Problem with appending a dataframe after a loop

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SUMMARY

The discussion addresses a common issue in pandas where a DataFrame is being overwritten instead of appended to during nested loops. The user initially creates a new DataFrame within the loop, causing previous iterations' data to be lost. The solution involves moving the DataFrame initialization outside the loop and using the correct syntax for appending rows. Additionally, the conversation highlights the inefficiency of iterating over DataFrames and suggests using list comprehensions or the DataFrame.apply() method for better performance.

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msn009
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I am iterating over 2 variables below and after the calculation are done, i'd like to append the dataframe to add the rows after each iteration, but what is happening now is that the row is getting replaced instead of getting added.

Python:
pre = [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]
post  = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

for i in pre:
    for j in post:
        results = pd.DataFrame(index=None)
        row = pd.DataFrame({'pre':i, 'post:j})
        results = results.append(row, ignore_index=True)

how do i ensure that at every iteration a new row will be added instead of replacing the existing one? Thanks
 
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msn009 said:
Python:
        results = pd.DataFrame(index=None)
What does that line do?
 
Ibix said:
What does that line do?
it creates a new dataframe called results and i am appending this dataframe with the values from row
 
msn009 said:
it creates a new dataframe called results and i am appending this dataframe with the values from row
So what does it do the second time round the loop?
 
Ibix said:
So what does it do the second time round the loop?
so for the first row it should add 10, 0 and when it goes through the loop again, there should be a new row in with values 10, 1 but what's happening now is the 10,0 is getting replaced with 10,1 instead of getting added.
 
Not what I wanted to know. What does that line I quoted do the second time around the loop?
 
Ibix said:
Not what I wanted to know. What does that line I quoted do the second time around the loop?
yes, i get what you mean now. it creates an empty dataframe again. didn't occur to me until now! thanks. i will move it to before the loop begins.
 
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changed the code to below:

Python:
import pandas as pd
pre = [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]
post  = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
index = 0

results = pd.DataFrame(index=None)
for i in pre:
    for j in post:
        row = pd.DataFrame({'pre':i, 'post':j})
        results = results.append(row, ignore_index=True)
        print('The new data frame is: \n{}'.format(results))

but its giving me this error now

ValueError: If using all scalar values, you must pass an index --- at the row line.. i am not sure what index should i place in there.
 
msn009 said:
changed the code to below:

Python:
import pandas as pd
pre = [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1]
post  = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
index = 0

results = pd.DataFrame(index=None)
for i in pre:
    for j in post:
        row = pd.DataFrame({'pre':i, 'post':j}, index[0])
        results = results.append(row, ignore_index=True)
        print('The new data frame is: \n{}'.format(results))
solved with adding index[0]
 
  • #10
Iterating through large pandas dataFrame objects is generally slow. Pandas iteration beats the whole purpose of using DataFrame. It is an anti-pattern and is something you should only do when you have exhausted every other option. It is better look for a List Comprehensions , vectorized solution or DataFrame.apply() method.

Pandas DataFrame loop using list comprehension example

Code:
result = [(x, y,z) for x, y,z in zip(df['column_1'], df['column_2'],df['column_3'])]
 
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