dotted A Python library that provides a method of accessing lists and dicts with a dotted path notation. It is useful to access a deep path inside a complex object composed of lists and dicts. Quick & Dirty: from dotted . collection import DottedCollection , DottedDict , DottedList obj = DottedCollection . factory ( dict_or_list ) obj = DottedCollection . load_json ( json_value ) obj = DottedDict ( a_dict ) obj = DottedList ( a_list ) from dotted . utils import dot , dot_json obj = dot ( dict_or_list ) obj = dot_json ( json_value ) DottedDict and DottedList have the same accessors as dict and list so you can iterate them as usual. Both type of objects support access via a dotted path key. Examples Example #1: DottedList obj = DottedList ([ 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 , [ 4 , 5 , 6 ], 7 , 8 , [ 9 , 10 ]]) All of these are true: obj [ 0 ] == 0 obj [ '1' ] == 1 obj [ '4.0' ] == 4 obj [ '4.2' ] == 6 obj [ 5 ] == 7 obj [ '7.1' ] == 10 If you want to append you can do: obj . append ( 12 ) or: obj [ 8 ] = 11 but the latter only works if index == len(obj) . In other case you will get a very pretty exception. Example #2: DottedDict obj = DottedDict ({ 'hello' : { 'world' : { 'wide' : 'web' }}}) All of these are true: obj [ 'hello' ] == { 'world' : { 'wide' : 'web' }} obj [ 'hello.world' ] == { 'wide' : 'web' } obj [ 'hello.world.wide' ] == 'web' obj . hello == { 'world' : { 'wide' : 'web' }} obj . hello . world == { 'wide' : 'web' } obj . hello . world . wide == 'web' Example #3: Both working together obj = DottedCollection . factory ({ 'hello' : [{ 'world' : { 'wide' : [ 'web' , 'web' , 'web' ]}}] }) You can access: obj [ 'hello' ][ 0 ][ 'world' ][ 'wide' ][ 0 ] obj . hello [ 0 ]. world . wide [ 0 ] obj . hello [ 0 ]. world [ 'wide' ][ 0 ] obj . hello [ 0 ]. world [ 'wide.0' ] obj . hello [ '0.world' ]. wide [ 0 ] ... obj [ 'hello.0.world.wide.0' ] Example #4: When new values are dicts or lists obj = DottedCollection . factory ( some_obj ) obj [ 'some.path' ] = { 'hello' : 'world' } # will be converted to a DottedDict obj [ 'another.path' ] = [ 'hello' ] # will be converted to a DottedList Example #5: Shortcuts from dotted . utils import dot , dot_json obj = dot ({ 'hello' : 'world' }) obj = dot_json ( '{"hello": "world"}' ) Example #6: Keys with dots inside! Well, you can actually use escaped keys, but it's better to avoid them: from dotted . utils import dot , dot_json obj = dot ({ "hello\.world" : "Hello!" }) obj = dot_json ( '{"hello \\ \\ .world": "Hello!"}' ) value = obj [ "hello\.world" ] # Hello! That's all! Tests Run in the terminal from the parent directory: python -m dotted.test.test_collection Special Thanks Marc Abramowitz ( @msabramo ) Ryan Witt ( @ryanwitt )
