How to retrieve an object from a Python Dictionary -

i'm trying retrieve object i've placed dictionary, every time try retrieve receive error:

  class csventry:     lat = []     lon = []     count = 0    # create dictionary tracking inputs   dict = defaultdict(list)    # lookup zipcode (returns integer value)   zipcode = convertlatlontozip(row[latcol], row[loncol])    # if zipcode in dictionary, update new count   if zipcode in dict:     oldentry = dict[zipcode]     oldentry.lat.append(row[latcol])     oldentry.lon.append(row[loncol])     oldentry.count = dict[zipcode].count + 1    # otherwise, make new entry   else:     entry = csventry()     entry.lat.append(row[latcol])     entry.lon.append(row[loncol])     entry.count = 1      # hash on zipcode     dict[zipcode].append(entry) 

it has no problem inserting entries dictionary, finds duplicate, fails error:

traceback (most recent call last):   file "parsecsv.py", line 125, in <module>     oldentry.lat.append(row[latcol]) attributeerror: 'list' object has no attribute 'lat' 

i apologize if duplicate or ridiculously simple question. i'm beginner python , searched long while before deciding post.

edit: added definition of dict

right oldentry list. looks want change

if zipcode in dict:     oldentry = dict[zipcode]     oldentry.lat.append(row[latcol])     oldentry.lon.append(row[loncol])     oldentry.count = dict[zipcode].count + 1 

to

if zipcode in dict:     oldentry = dict[zipcode][0]     oldentry.lat.append(row[latcol])     oldentry.lon.append(row[loncol])     oldentry.count += 1 

that being said, might make more sense create new csventry object , append dict[zipcode] alternatively, make dict defaultdict containing csventry objects, meaning wouldn't have check whether zipcode in dict. give code like:

zip_dict = collections.defaultdict(csventry) zip_dict[zipcode].lat.append(row[latcol]) zip_dict[zipcode].lon.append(row[longcol]) zip_dict[zipcode].count += 1 

this easiest way solve problem. on sidenote, want avoid naming variable dict overwrites builtin dict type.