Python Config Parser can't find section?

Question

I'm trying to use ConfigParser to read a .cfg file for my pygame game. I can't get it to function for some reason. The code looks like this:

import ConfigParser
def main():
    config = ConfigParser.ConfigParser()
    config.read('options.cfg')
    print config.sections()
    Screen_width = config.getint('graphics','width')
    Screen_height = config.getint('graphics','height')

The main method in this file is called in the launcher for the game. I've tested that out and that works perfectly. When I run this code, I get this error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "Scripts\Launcher.py", line 71, in <module>
    Game.main()
  File "C:\Users\astro_000\Desktop\Mini-Golf\Scripts\Game.py", line 8, in main
    Screen_width = config.getint('graphics','width')
  File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 359, in getint
    return self._get(section, int, option)
  File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 356, in _get
    return conv(self.get(section, option))
  File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 607, in get
    raise NoSectionError(section)
ConfigParser.NoSectionError: No section: 'graphics'

The thing is, there is a section 'graphics'.

The file I'm trying to read from looks like this:

[graphics]
height = 600
width = 800

I have verified that it is, in fact called options.cfg. config.sections() returns only this: "[]"

I've had this work before using this same code, but it wont work now. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Solution 1

I always use the SafeConfigParser:

from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser

def main():
    parser = SafeConfigParser()
    parser.read('options.cfg')
    print(parser.sections())
    screen_width = parser.getint('graphics','width')
    screen_height = parser.getint('graphics','height')

Also make sure there is a file called options.cfg and specify the full path if needed, as I already commented. Parser will fail silently if there is no file found.

Solution 2

Your config file probably is not found. The parser will just produce an empty set in that case. You should wrap your code with a check for the file:

from ConfigParser import SafeConfigParser
import os

def main():
    filename = "options.cfg"
    if os.path.isfile(filename):
        parser = SafeConfigParser()
        parser.read(filename)
        print(parser.sections())
        screen_width = parser.getint('graphics','width')
        screen_height = parser.getint('graphics','height')
    else:
        print("Config file not found")

if __name__=="__main__":
    main()

Comments

[user3033405]

' [] Traceback (most recent call last): File "Scripts\Launcher.py", line 71, in <module> Game.main() File "C:\Users\astro_000\Desktop\Mini-Golf\Scripts\Game.py", line 7, in main screen_width = parser.getint('graphics','width') File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 359, in getint return self._get(section, int, option) File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 356, in _get return conv(self.get(section, option)) File "c:\python27\lib\ConfigParser.py", line 607, in get raise NoSectionError(section) ConfigParser.NoSectionError: No section: 'graphics' '

[tamasgal]

It works fine. Are you sure you have a file called options.cfg? Specify a full path if you're unsure about it.

[k-nut]

and in case your file is not found you should probably try feeding it the full path

[tamasgal]

You can use a comment function instead of copying my whole code and you would have probably seen that there is already a hint to check the existence of the file.

[user3033405]

I'm going to try to re-install python 2.7 itself

[k-nut]

@septi this actually solved the problem though. I tried copying your code to see if it helped. It did not so I wrapped it to make it actually work. I don't think a valid solution is woth a downvote...

[tamasgal]

Maybe reinstall windows. No just a joke, why would you reinstall python? I'm absolutely sure that the path is not correct. Or the filename. Double check that! My code works absolutely fine.

[tamasgal]

I already commented/edited my answer with the same hint before you copied my answer, so this answer is not helpful.

[k-nut]

But I actually showed how to solve this (and indeed did not see that you commented on the same matter). But well It's not worth arguing with an internet stranger. I would just like the OP to try this.

[user3033405]

Now it returns "Config File not found". I'm going to try it with a full path.

[user3033405]

With the full path it now works! Thank you k-nut and septi, you were very helpful. I'm going to mark this as solved now.