paul j3 added the comment:
As Steven pointed out, the existing `add_argument_group` mechanism can be used
to group required arguments. For example
------------------------- temp.py --------------------------
parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description = 'Do something')
group1 = parser.add_argument_group('required arguments')
group1.add_argument('--reqarg', '-r', required=True)
parser.add_argument('--optarg','-o')
parser.add_argument('foo')
parser.print_help()
------------------------------------------------------------
usage: ipython [-h] --reqarg REQARG [--optarg OPTARG] foo
Do something
positional arguments:
foo
optional arguments:
-h, --help show this help message and exit
--optarg OPTARG, -o OPTARG
required arguments:
--reqarg REQARG, -r REQARG
Positional 'foo' can also be put in the 'required' group:
group1.add_argument('foo')
required arguments:
--reqarg REQARG, -r REQARG
foo
The distinction between 'positionals' and 'optionals' (or flagged) is essential
to the parsing, but it is not necessary for Help Formatting.
I can imagine grouping arguments by 'required/not-required' properties. It
might be worth constructing an alternative HelpFormatter class that regroups
the arguments in this way. Subclassing the HelpFormatter is the established
way of adding features to the help display.
The existing HelpFormatter flags 'required' arguments in the usage line with
'[]'. There it is has the added task of flagging Mutually Exclusive Groups in
the same way.
It's worth keeping in mind that whether an argument is 'required' or not is
determined in 2 different ways. There is an optional 'required' flag (default
False). But this flag is not allowed for 'positionals'. Instead with those
'argparse' looks at 'nargs' ('?*' are not required).
The 'required' attribute of an argument (Action) is ignored during 'parse_args'
until the end. At that time it makes an inventory of 'required' arguments that
have not been seen, and potentially raises an error. That testing was changed
in a relatively recent patch, and produced an unintended change in whether
'subparsers' were required or not. (I could look up those issues in needed).
I'll think about creating the alternative HelpFormatter.
----------
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Python tracker <[email protected]>
<http://bugs.python.org/issue9694>
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