What do Python IDEs use for the member drop-down?

[Larry Bates]

tbrianedgar at yahoo.com wrote:
> I realize in the new style, getattr and setattr are supposed to
> reference something in a base class, but here is what I'm trying to
> do:
> 
> class tryit:
>     def __init__(self, a, b):
>         self.__dict__["a"] = a
>         self.__dict__["b"] = b
>     def __dir__(self):
>         return [ "geta", "getb" ]
>     def __getattr__(self, attr):
>         if attr == "geta":
>             return self.__dict__["a"]
>         elif attr == "getb":
>             return self.__dict__["b"]
>         else:
>             raise AttributeError
> 
> x = tryit(1, 2)
> 
> So, I'm OK with the fact that x.a, x.b, x.geta, and x.getb all work (I
> don't care too much about hiding a and b).  What I would like is for
> the Python IDE drop-down to include geta and getb as choices, which I
> thought would be accomplished by overloading __dir__.  Am I just using
> the wrong IDE (tried PythonWin from ActivePython so far)?  Do I need
> to overload something else?
> 
> Whenever people ask me for help, I usually want to know "so what are
> you trying to do?"  Here goes.  I'm trying to create a base C struct
> class where the creator of the derived class can provide a simple "C
> struct" definition, and the necessary information will be loaded into
> class instances.  Something like this totaly contrived example:
> 
> class file_header(c_struct):
>     definition_text = """
>         typedef struct file_header  // little endian align 32
> error_if_pad
>         {
>             uint32 LengthInBytes;
>             uint8   Revision;
>             uint8   Reserved;
>             uint16 Encoding;
>         } file_header; """
>     def __init__(self, BinaryData = ""):
>         c_struct.__init__(self, BinaryData)
> 
> Header = file_header( File.read(sizeof(file_header)) )
> if Header.LengthInBytes > 9:   # The IDE gives me my members as
> choices!!
>     HappyWithLength()
> else:
>     Header.LengthInBytes = 9  # Again, nice drop-down from IDE
> Header.Encoding = NewEncoding( File )
> Header.GUITreeControlEdit()
> OutFile.write( Header.GetBinaryData() )
> 
> Thanks for any suggestions!
> 
> -Brian

 > class tryit:
 >     def __init__(self, a, b):
 >         self.__dict__["a"] = a
 >         self.__dict__["b"] = b
 >     def __dir__(self):
 >         return [ "geta", "getb" ]
 >     def __getattr__(self, attr):
 >         if attr == "geta":
 >             return self.__dict__["a"]
 >         elif attr == "getb":
 >             return self.__dict__["b"]
 >         else:
 >             raise AttributeError

I "think" I understand what you want.  Try this:

class tryit(object):
     def __init__(self, a, b):
         self.__a = a
         self.__b = b

     def __ga(self):
         return self.__a

     def __gb(selt):
         return self.__b

     geta=property(__ga, 'ga property')
     getb=property(__gb, 'gb property')

-Larry