list - Python 2: AttributeError: 'file' object has no attribute 'strip' -

i have .txt document called new_data.txt. data in document separated dots. want open file inside python, split , put inside list.

output = open('new_data.txt', 'a') output_list = output.strip().split('.') 

but have error:

attributeerror: 'file' object has no attribute 'strip' 

how can fix this?

note: program on python 2

first, want open file in read mode (you have in append mode)

then want read() file:

output = open('new_data.txt', 'r') # see r output_list = output.read().strip().split('.') 

this whole content of file.

currently working file object (hence error).