Python Read/Write serial

[dlizimmerman]

Learning to read/write serial using back to back USB to serial boards (X-cross TX & RX) started writing to a port and monitoring the other using Putty. All looks good as expected but when I read and write to both ports (not using Putty at all) I get the quotes and the "b" from the write. ie. ser3.write( b'->this way') when I do text = ser4.read(100) then print it out I get b'->this way' quotes and apostrophe not sure why!?!?! Any help or clues greatly appreciated.

Please see result following code snippet.

import serial

def Serial_Port_Function(selection):
    print("Serial Port Function selection = " + selection )

    n = 9

    for counter in range (1, n+1):
    
        if 'hello' in selection:
            print ( "howdy!" )    
    
        elif '1' in selection:
            ser3.write( b"->Sent:ATZbdEFGhijkloputrew<<" )

        elif '2' in selection:
            ser4.write( b'->Sent:ZIGGYziggyZIGGYzoooo<<' )

        elif '3' in selection:

            ser3.write( b"->This way >>>>> Writen to Serial 3 >>>>>" )
            text = ser4.read(100)
            print( str(counter) + str(text) + '//The read from com4 ' + '\r\n' )

            ser4.write( b'->That way <<<<< Writen to Serial 4 <<<<<' )
            text = ser3.read(100)
            print( str(counter) + str(text) + '\\The read from com3 ' + '\r\n' )

        else:
            print ( 'nope' )

    return( selection )

# This is the Main Function -------------------------------------------------------###
print( "enter \n1. for output to com4\n2. for output to com3\n3. for bi-directional\n" )
input_text = input( '-->' )
print ( input_text )

if 'hello' in input_text:
    print ( input_text )
    
elif '1' in input_text:
    print ( input_text + ' output to com4' )
    input( "Open Serial 4 with Putty press enter when ready" )
    ser3 = serial.Serial("com3", timeout=0.07)  # open serial port3
    print(ser3.name)         # check which port was really used

elif '2' in input_text:
    print ( input_text + " output to com3" )
    input( "Open Serial 3 with Putty press enter when ready" )
    ser4 = serial.Serial("com4", timeout=0.07)  # open serial port4
    print(ser4.name)         # check which port was really used

elif '3' in input_text:
    print ( input_text + ' is bi-directional' )
    input( "Ensure All Putty ports are closed, press enter when ready" )

    ser3 = serial.Serial("com3", timeout=0.1)  # open serial port3
    print(ser3.name)         # check which port was really used

    ser4 = serial.Serial("com4", timeout=0.1)  # open serial port4
    print(ser4.name)         # check which port was really used

#    ser3.close()
#    ser4.close()

else:
    print ( 'nope' )

ret_val = Serial_Port_Function( input_text )

print( "Returned value =>",ret_val )

#quit()
[icode][/icode]

What I get for output is:

1b'->This way >>>>> Writen to Serial 3 >>>>>'// The read from com4

1b'->That way <<<<< Writen to Serial 4 <<<<<'\The read from com3

2b' etc., etc., etc.

Why am I getting the b and enclosing apostrophes? I don't see this when monitoring port using Putty.

Thanks in advance for answer or clue!

Dave Z. (dlizimmerman)