ConfigParser and multiple option names

[Larry Bates]

Florian Lindner wrote:
> Hello,
> since ConfigParser does not seem to support multiple times the same option
> name, like:
> 
> dir="/home/florian"
> dir="/home/john"
> dir="/home/whoever"
> 
> (only the last one is read in)
> 
> I wonder what the best way to work around this.
> 
> I think the best solution would be to use a seperation character:
> 
> dir="/home/florian, /home/john, home/whoever"
> 
> What character would be best to work on various operating systems? (of what
> names may a path consist is the question)
> 
> What do you think? Any better ideas?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Florian

I would either use (not tested):

[directories]
dir_01="/home/florian"
dir_02="/home/john"
dir_03="/home/whoever"

and in my program do:

INI=ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
INI.read(inifilepath)

section="directories"
dirs=[x for x in INI.options(section) if x.startswith('dir_')]

or more easily:

[init]
dirs=/home/florian,/home/john,home/whoever

and in program do:

section="init"
dirs=INI.get(section, 'dirs',).split(',')

Which one to use depends on how many dirs you would be supporting.
If it is a lot, I like the first version.  If a few, the second
seems better.

-Larry Bates