iniparse

iniparse is a INI parser for Python which is:

• Compatiable with ConfigParser: Backward compatible implementations of ConfigParser, RawConfigParser, and SafeConfigParser are included that are API-compatible with the Python standard library. They pass all the unit tests in Python-2.4.4.
• Preserves structure of INI files: Order of sections & options, indentation, comments, and blank lines are preserved as far as possible when data is updated.
• More convenient: Values can be accessed using dotted notation (cfg.user.name), or using container syntax (cfg['user']['name']).
• Extensible: It is possible to add other configuration formats, and to convert between different formats (as long as the data models are compatible).

It is very useful for config files that are updated both by users and by programs, since it is very disorienting for a user to have her config file completely rearranged whenever a program changes it. iniparse also allows making the order of entries in a config file significant, which is desirable in applications like image galleries.

Website: http://code.google.com/p/iniparse/

New API:

• Open an INI file:

  >>> from iniparse import INIConfig
  >>> cfg = INIConfig(file('options.ini'))
  

• Access/Modify data:

  >>> print cfg.playlist.expand_playlist
  True
  >>> print cfg.ui.width
  150
  >>> cfg.ui.width = 200
  >>> print cfg['ui']['width']
  200
  

• Print data:

  >>> print cfg
  [playlist]
  expand_playlist = True
  
  [ui]
  display_clock = True
  display_qlength = True
  width = 200
  

Backword Compatiable API:

• The entire ConfigParser API is supported. This is just a brief example:

  >>> from iniparse import ConfigParser
  >>> cfgpr = ConfigParser()
  >>> cfgpr.read('options.ini')
  >>> print cfgpr.get('ui', 'width')
  150
  >>> cfgpr.set('ui', 'width', 175)
  

• The new API can also be accessed via backword-compatible objects:

  >>> print cfgpr.data.playlist.expand_playlist
  True
  >>> cfgpr.data.ui.width = 200
  >>> print cfgpr.data.ui.width
  200
  

A non-INI example:

• A simple dotted format is also implemented:

  >>> from iniparse import BasicConfig
  >>> n = BasicConfig()
  >>> n.x = 7
  >>> n.name.first = 'paramjit'
  >>> n.name.last = 'oberoi'
  >>> print n.x
  7
  >>> print n.name.first
  'paramjit'
  >>> print n
  name.first = paramjit
  name.last = oberoi
  x = 7
  

• Convert to INI:

  >>> from iniparse import INIConfig
  >>> i = INIConfig()
  >>> del n.x               # since INI doesn't support top-level values
  >>> i.import_config(n)
  >>> print i
  [name]
  first = paramjit
  last = oberoi