Chapter 171: configparser

This module provides the ConfigParser class which implements a basic configuration language in INI files. You can use this to write Python programs which can be customized by end users easily.

Section 171.1: Creating configuration file programmatically

Configuration file contains sections, each section contains keys and values. configparser module can be used to read and write config files. Creating the configuration file:

import configparser
config = configparser.ConfigParser()
config['settings']={'resolution':'320x240',
'color':'blue'}
with open('example.ini', 'w') as configfile:
config.write(configfile)

The output file contains below structure

[settings]
resolution = 320x240
color = blue

If you want to change particular field ,get the field and assign the value

settings=config['settings']
settings['color']='red'

Section 171.2: Basic usage

In config.ini:

[DEFAULT]
debug = True
name = Test
password = password
[FILES]
path = /path/to/file

In Python:

from ConfigParser import ConfigParser
config = ConfigParser()

Load configuration file

config.read("config.ini")
Access the key "debug" in "DEFAULT" section config.get("DEFAULT", "debug")
Return 'True'
Access the key "path" in "FILES" destion config.get("FILES", "path")
Return '/path/to/file'