title: passing files and values as parameter to a function in python
body: <p>I am a python newbie. I am trying to run this simple python example. I am wish to pass files and certain values as parameter to my function latcalc(). Could anyone suggest how I can pass my files and values as parameters. Or is there any better way/approach to do these things.</p>
  
  <pre><code>#!/usr/bin/python
  
  # include the constants
  
  min_length = 1
  max_length = 30
  
  
  # delays
  
  delay = 100
  
  # Speed of light 
  
  c_vaccum = 3e8
  
  global filename1
  global filename2
  global filename3
  
  def openfiles():
  
      filename1 = open("file1.txt", "w")
      filename2 = open("file2.txt", "w")
      filename3 = open("file3.txt", "w")
  
  def latcalc(filename,target_name,vf):
  
  
      target_name = 0
  
      for length in range(min_length, max_length):
              if length &lt; 2:
                      target_name += (length/(vf * c_vaccum))
              elif length == 2:
                      target_name += delay
              else:
                      target_name = target_name
  
              myline="%s\t%s\n" % (length, target_name)
              filename.write(myline)
  
  
  openfiles()
  latcalc(filename1,lat40,0.4)
  latcalc(filename2,lat80,0.8)
  latcalc(filename3,lat100,1)
  </code></pre>