allRegexps = ( ('plantRegex', re.compile('^(Plant:)(.*)')), ('kernelRegex', re.compile('^(Kernel:)(.*)')), ('updateRegex', re.compile('^(Update:)(.*)')), ('archRegex', re.compile('^(Architecture:)(.*)')), ('providesRegex',re.compile('^(Provides:)(.*)')), ('dependsRegex', re.compile('^(Dependes:)(.*)')), ('filesRegex', re.compile('^(Files:)(.*)')),)for line in plantData: tab = line.strip() if tab == "" and plant != 0: continue for name, regex in allRegexps: m = regex.match(tab) if m: print "found " + name # do something with m.group() break # and so on ...