Re: [Pytables-users] __getattr__ vs. __getitem__ (Natural naming)

[Ivan V. i B. <iv...@ca...>]

On Sun, Jan 16, 2005 at 02:30:16PM +0100, Norbert Nemec wrote:
[...]
> How about generally defining __???item__ in parallel to the corresponding=
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> __???attr__ ?
[...]

Hi, Norbert.  In fact, since we discussed the possibility of using
non-natural identifiers I clearly saw that __{get,del}item__ and
__{get,del}attr__ should be interchangeable, to allow accessing members
with non-natural names.  Please note I that intentionally left out
__set{item,attr}__ because this is a greater change.  File.create*()
calls would be changed to direct constructor invocation for leaves and
groups, a thing which I definetly think Right and perfectly plausible
(but I might be wrong).

> In a further step, it might even be a good idea, to make __???item__ the=
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> standard way that is used everywhere within the pytables library and=20
> __???attr__ just an additional option falling back to __???item__
[...]

Well, that would make code a lot clearer and uniform.

    It seems to be that it would also be quite cool to support entire
node and attribute paths in the __???item__ interface.  This would make
lots of File methods unnecessary (but they would be kept for
compatibility).  Imagine issuing:
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  >>> # h5file.root.detector.readout <=3D>
  >>> tbl =3D h5file.root['detector/readout']
  >>> # h5file.root.column['name column'].attrs.temperature <=3D>
  >>> attr =3D h5file.root['column/name column/attrs/temperature']

    I think this should be quite easy to implement and would make
building pathnames and traversing them a pleasure, keeping interactive
behaviour the same.  Maybe even File.__???{item,attr}__ could be
tailored to defer to the root group object invocations using an item /
attribute starting with '/', so that using h5file['/detector/readout']
would be possible...

Regards,
    Ivan

import disclaimer
--=20
Ivan Vilata i Balaguer   >qo<   http://www.carabos.com/
       C=E1rabos Coop. V.  V  V   Enjoy Data
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