How to write a Pandas Dataframe into a HDF5 dataset - python-3.x

Question

I'm trying to write data from a Pandas dataframe into a nested hdf5 file, with multiple groups and datasets within each group. I'd like to keep it as a single file which will grow in the future on a daily basis. I've had a go with the following code, which shows the structure of what I'd like to achieve
import h5py
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
file = h5py.File('database.h5','w')
d = {'one' : pd.Series([1., 2., 3.], index=['a', 'b', 'c']),
'two' : pd.Series([1., 2., 3., 4.], index=['a', 'b', 'c', 'd'])}
df = pd.DataFrame(d)
groups = ['A','B','C']
for m in groups:
group = file.create_group(m)
dataset = ['1','2','3']
for n in dataset:
data = df
ds = group.create_dataset(m + n, data.shape)
print ("Dataset dataspace is", ds.shape)
print ("Dataset Numpy datatype is", ds.dtype)
print ("Dataset name is", ds.name)
print ("Dataset is a member of the group", ds.parent)
print ("Dataset was created in the file", ds.file)
print ("Writing data...")
ds[...] = data
print ("Reading data back...")
data_read = ds[...]
print ("Printing data...")
print (data_read)
file.close()
This way the nested structure is created but it loses the index and columns. I've tried the
df.to_hdf('database.h5', ds, table=True, mode='a')
but didn't work, I get this error
AttributeError: 'Dataset' object has no attribute 'split'
Can anyone shed some light please. Many thanks

Answer 1

df.to_hdf() expects a string as a key parameter (second parameter):
key : string
identifier for the group in the store
so try this:
df.to_hdf('database.h5', ds.name, table=True, mode='a')
where ds.name should return you a string (key name):
In [26]: ds.name
Out[26]: '/A1'

Answer 2

I thought to have a go with pandas\pytables and the HDFStore class instead of h5py. So I tried the following
import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
db = pd.HDFStore('Database.h5')
index = pd.date_range('1/1/2000', periods=8)
df = pd.DataFrame(np.random.randn(8, 3), index=index, columns=['Col1', 'Col2', 'Col3'])
groups = ['A','B','C']
i = 1
for m in groups:
subgroups = ['d','e','f']
for n in subgroups:
db.put(m + '/' + n, df, format = 'table', data_columns = True)
It works, 9 groups (groups instead of datasets in pyatbles instead fo h5py?) created from A/d to C/f. Columns and indexes preserved and can do the dataframe operations I need. Still wondering though whether this is an efficient way to retrieve data from a specific group which will become huge in the the future i.e. operations like
db['A/d'].Col1[4:]