Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition [Discontinued]

If you’ve ever spent hours renaming files or updating hundreds of spreadsheet cells, you know how tedious tasks like these can be. But what if you could have your computer do them for you? In this fully revised second edition of the best-selling classic Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, you’ll learn how to use Python to write programs that do in minutes what would take you hours to do by hand—no prior programming experience required. You'll learn the basics of Python and explore Python’s rich library of modules for performing specific tasks, like scraping data off websites, reading PDF and Word documents, and automating clicking and typing tasks. The second edition of this international fan favourite includes a brand-new chapter on input validation, as well as tutorials on automating Gmail and Google Sheets, plus tips on automatically updating CSV files. You’ll learn how to create programs that effortlessly perform useful feats of automation to:

* Search for text in a file or across multiple files * Create, update, move, and rename files and folders * Search the Web and download online content * Update and format data in Excel spreadsheets of any size * Split, merge, watermark, and encrypt PDFs * Send email responses and text notifications * Fill out online forms Step-by-step instructions walk you through each program and updated practice projects at the end of each chapter challenge you to improve those programs and use your newfound skills to automate similar tasks. Don't spend your time doing work a well-trained monkey could do. Even if you've never written a line of code, you can make your computer do the grunt work. Learn how in Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, 2nd Edition. Author Bio Al Sweigart is a professional software developer who teaches programming to kids and adults. Sweigart has written several bestselling programming books for beginners, including Automate the Boring Stuff with Python, Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, Cracking Codes with Python, and Coding with Minecraft. Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction Part I: Python Programming Basics Chapter 1: Python Basics Chapter 2: Flow Control Chapter 3: Functions Chapter 4: Lists Chapter 5: Dictionaries and Structuring Data Chapter 6: Manipulating Strings Part II: Automating Tasks Chapter 7: Pattern Matching with Regular Expressions Chapter 8: Input Validation Chapter 9: Reading and Writing Files Chapter 10: Organizing Files Chapter 11: Debugging Chapter 12: Web Scraping Chapter 13: Working with Excel Spreadsheets Chapter 14: Working with Google Sheets Chapter 15: Working with PDF and Word Documents Chapter 16: Working with CSV Files and JSON Data Chapter 17: Keeping Time, Scheduling Tasks, and Launching Programs Chapter 18: Sending Email and Text Messages Chapter 19: Manipulating Images Chapter 20: Controlling the Keyboard and Mouse with GUI Automation Appendix A: Installing Third-Party Modules Appendix B: Running Programs Appendix C: Answers to the Practice Questions Reviews “If you are new to Python, get this book. ... If you lie in the category of experienced Pythonistas and haven’t read this book, you should also take out some time and read it.” - The Startup, Medium "With lessons on how to use Python to program Excel spreadsheets, crawl websites, parse PDFs and Word documents, send emails, and other productivity-boosting task automation, it's a stellar resource for office workers, academics, and administrators." - Mashable Wil Wheaton on reading Automate the Boring Stuff with Python: “I’m having a lot of fun breaking things and then putting them back together, and just remembering the joy of turning a set of instructions into something useful and fun like I did when I was a kid.” “Do you need Automate the Boring Stuff with Python? Yes, if you want to enhance your workflow by using automation, this is an excellent place to start. Highly recommended.” - Network World