# Exporting lists to files

I am trying to write a program which will generate a list of objects and then exports it in a separate file and clears its memory. As an example I tried the following

Do[{Subscript[l, p] = Table[Subscript[l, p, i], {i, 10}];
Export["\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\"l\", \"p\"]$$.mnaz",
Compress[Subscript[l, p]], "String"]; Clear[Subscript[l, p]]}, {p,
1, 3}]


Of course, the above is just a sample (and my actual list(s) are more bulky (actually they are list of matrices)), but I hope it explains the spirit. I wanted to export each list separately so that I can get separate files like l_1.mnaz, l_2.mnaz etc., which I can import again by using the same type of code.

Motivation: I need to actually generate a huge list of data. However whatever I do, my system goes out of memory after 5000 loops, which itself takes a lot of time. One reason is that, I need to modify the list at each loop. It seems 1000 loops takes a reasonable time. Hence I am trying to break the loop into smaller chunks, export the data, and clear the memory for the next loop. Clear[Subscript[l, p]] is used for that purpose.

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Subscripts don't work in any filename system I know of, so I think that will cause problems. –  Verbeia Jul 29 '12 at 9:11
@Verbeia even if they did "\!$$\*SubscriptBox[\"l\", \"p\"]$$.mnaz" would not work. One could instead use: ToString[Subscript[l, p], TeXForm] <> ".mnaz" or if the file system supports it something besides TeXForm. –  Mr.Wizard Jul 29 '12 at 9:25

Try this:

Do[
l[p] = Table[Subscript[l, p, i], {i, 10}];
Export["l_" <> ToString[p] <> ".mnaz", Compress@ l[p], "String"];
l[p] =.
, {p, 1, 3}
]


I replaced Subscript[l, p] with l[p]. Frankly I don't see a reason to not simply use temp = Table[ . . . but I am trying to keep to the spirit of your example.

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Beat me to it by seconds! –  Verbeia Jul 29 '12 at 9:12
@Verbeia I'm trying to defend my rank against the Hypno-Toad onslaught. :o) –  Mr.Wizard Jul 29 '12 at 9:16
Hey! I need two votes for keeping Mr awake all night –  belisarius Jul 29 '12 at 9:40
@belisarius What's this? Are you colluding with the green one? ;-p –  Mr.Wizard Jul 29 '12 at 9:56
@Mr.Wizard that is just the spirit ;-) –  Yves Klett Jul 29 '12 at 9:58